2026 Round the Island Race ‘Book a Berth’ – For Individuals or Cabin Shares
Round the Island Yacht Race is on Saturday 11th July 2026.
3 Day Event: Friday Practice / Race Day Saturday 11th July 2026 / Sunday Chill-Out Sail
When: 0930 Friday 10th July – 1500 hrs Sunday 12th July 2026.
From: Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport
Yacht: Beneteau First 40 Racer / Cruiser with Spinnaker
Prices: (4 Available 13/5/26)
£850 individual saloon berth or cabin share
£795 individual sleeping ashore at own cost
£1500 single occupancy cabin
£1598 for 2 persons sharing a double cabin
Includes:
Yacht with spinnaker
Professional Skipper & First Mate
- From Gosport / Free Parking
- Accommodation Aboard (shared cabin)
- Cowes Mooring on Fri / Sat nights
- Fuel
- Safety Equipment
- Race Entry Fees
- Racing Insurance
(Food on board during sailing – for ‘book a berth clients’ yachts.) - Wet weather gear available to hire.
2026 Race Around the Isle of Wight Event will be on a Beneteau First 40 Cruiser / Racer with symmetric spinnaker. There is a practice day meeting on Friday morning 0930 hrs from Gosport. Boats will berth in West Cowes at Shepards marina on a ‘walk-ashore’ mooring in West Cowes for Friday and Saturday night which enables access to enjoy the Cowes ambience. Yachts will depart and return to Gosport but if you need to jump off in Cowes no problem. There will be food on board during the sailing days and in the evening you eat out at own cost with your crew mates. There are loads of food stalls and eateries in the evenings at own cost. You are allocated a berth (or cabin) and can stay on board Friday and Saturday nights on a mooring in Shepards marina in West Cowes. You can alternatively sleep ashore at own cost.
The Yacht – Beneteau First 40
The Beneteau First 40 cruiser / racer with symmetric spinnaker is a lively yacht, 3 cabins plus the saloon for accommodation which allows us some flexibility in accommodating those sleeping aboard. Berths are in 3 doubles plus saloon (for 2 – with 1 either side of the saloon) Heads x 1. It has a large wheel with German mainsheet system and plenty of cockpit space. The yacht has a cooker and fridge.
What to Expect
We can have beginners on board but we do need a certain number of people that have already sailed to some extent so that we get a good balance of crew. It does help if you help if you have a positive attitude and we can help guide you through the event. We have both a Professional Skipper and First Mate aboard who will help teach you and mentor you. We encourage everyone to be actively involved. Let us know prior to arrival if you feel that you would prefer to sit back and take photos… Crew may helm in less busy scenarios and will be totally involved in the sail trim and sail changes / spinnaker hoists and drops.
There is a really useful practice day on the Friday and this helps prepare everyone for the race and gives the crew an idea of everyones strengths and where best to situate people in the boat.
It may all seem like a bit of a scrum when we get to Cowes for the berthing on Friday after the practise day (after all it is the busiest event of the year – and largest participant yacht event of the world) but we will do our best to get us berthed in good time on the Friday afternoon at about 4pm giving ample time to get sorted for the early start on Saturday morning.
You are catered whilst aboard and will help prepare sandwiches / fluids / water for typical ‘on the go’ boat food and be expected to chip in with galley duties. If you have special dietary requirements then please be prepared with your own special snacks. We will do our best to cater for dietary needs but it can be difficult whilst racing. Remember you may be at sea for up to 10 hrs on Saturday.
You eat out at night at own cost. There are a variety of eateries in Cowes to chose from and some ‘pop up’ stalls. Please organize your own restaurants / eating ashore.
Friday / Saturday Night Mooring
You will be moored in West Cowes on Fri / Sat nights at the Shepards Wharf Marina but you will be rafted out most probably without shore power so you will be on 12 volts and shore power if you get round in a good time. There are toilets and showers ashore. Saturday night is naturally a better night for partying!
Race Start:
If you think it was busy parking up at Cowes then the start on Saturday morning should impress you – there will be literally hundreds of boats around you! Stay focussed on the tasks allocated to make sure that you get a clean, safe start. Once everyone starts going in the same direction it is less stressful!
You go anti-clockwise around the Isle of Wight. Around 60Nm. You pass through Hurst Narrows where it can very close with other boats, sail close around the Needles making sure that you miss the old wreck just offshore, go South past St Catherine’s point and the tidal race just offshore. Then past Sandown and White Cliff passing Bembridge and St Helens Fort. Across the shallows outside of the Seaview moorings and back up the Solent often close into Ryde to get out of the tide. It is just a fantastic race and an unbelievable spectacle! Everyone should do this race at least once in their life!
Eating / Drinking:
There are loads of stalls to eat and drink ashore in the area and in the marina area of Cowes – but you are welcome to bring alcohol on board for a drink once safely tied up. Please help by keeping the boat tidy and clean up after yourselves. You will all have to help with the feeding of sandwiches / rolls and grub / fluids to eat on board and being involved in the running of the boat.
Alcohol on Board
We do not run a dry boat and you are welcome to bring alcohol for consumption whilst safely tied up ashore and post race only but there are huge array of bars and stalls ashore. We do not suggest over indulgence on the Friday night prior to the race.
Tracking:
If people have a smart phone please ‘track’ your boat – your friends and family can then see exactly where you are around the course relative to the other yachts. The tracking number will be given to you by your crew before arrival. The more that track the better but it does eat battery life on your device. One or more person (client) should track from each boat. Skippers number should not track. Skippers and Mates numbers should be available for contact / race control.
Latest Availability:
Please contact us to determine availability of book a berth and also any request for complete yacht charter availability – this event always sells out but it is worth contacting us even late minute as occasionally we are able to put on an additional yacht at late notice!
To Book – Contact Us:
We do NOT use an online booking system. We prefer to communicate with our clients to make sure that you are suited and well briefed to the events you take part in. We will send you a booking form and bank details for a transfer.
info@yachtforce.co.uk 02380 016450
Round the Island Race 2026 – Complete Yacht Charter
Please enquire if you require a complete yacht charter.