Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Robin Aisher will be racing together again this year in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Both are sailing legends in their specialist fields. They competed together in the 2006 event, since which time Knox-Johnston completed the gruelling Velux 5 Oceans Race round the world, finishing in fourth place and, at age 68, as the oldest skipper in the history of the event. In 2005 they raced in Suhaili, the wooden ketch in which Knox-Johnston became the first to sail single-handed, non-stop round the world in 1969. This year they will be aboard the high-tech Open 60 Lombard Marine Finance. Ian Braham, Head of Marine Finance, says: “We couldn’t have asked for two more revered yachtsman to be racing on the boat, each a testimony to outstanding achievements in the sport. We are looking forward to a continuing relationship with Sir Robin.”

The two have been firm friends since 1969 although their careers afloat have taken different directions; Knox-Johnston’s as a solo, long  distance sailor, Aisher’s as an Olympic athlete, gaining a bronze in 1968 as well as skippering the Yeoman dynasty of offshore racing yachts. Last year he helmed Yeomantix to a class victory in the international Cork Week regatta.

Robin Aisher refers to his friend as ‘Kedge’ and remembers an Admiral’s Cup race in 1973: “Kedge was racing on the foredeck when there was a problem up the mast, so up he went. Just then we completely wiped out. The boat came up but with no sign of Kedge. We were all looking for him astern when he poked his head round the mast and shouted ‘I’m here!’ That’s him.”

The crew for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will include Sir Robin’s nephew Paul, whose father Chris helped bring Suhaili to the UK from India where she was built. Paul is Lombard Marine Finance’s Marine Manager as well as a keen sailor, though he admits to feeling rather more at home on a Sigma 33 than an Open 60!

Robin Aisher is Admiral of the Island Sailing Club, organisers of the event. His place would normally be on the RYS platform to fire the initial cannon but this year he will need to be out on the water ready for the first start at 5am. On this occasion, Alan Titchmarsh, gardener, broadcaster and writer, will be doing the honours. Alan is himself an enthusiastic yachtsman and devotee of the Island. He comments: “The Isle of Wight has always been a special place for me. I've boated around it for the last 30 years, and lived on it for the last nine. I'm delighted to be starting the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, even if it does mean getting up at four in the morning!”

Final entries for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race must be received by 12 noon on Saturday 16th June. These can be made online via www.roundtheisland.org.uk.

Flavia Bateson & Jo Grindley

Image:  Suhaili, the wooden ketch in which Knox-Johnston became the first to sail single-handed, non-stop round the world in 1969

Last Updated ( Friday, 15 June 2007 )