A UNIQUE chance to spend a day sailing with one of the world's best yachtsmen is up for grabs in business South's latest hot competition.

The Daily Echo has teamed up with Southampton based financial services giant Skandia to offer readers this once in a lifetime opportunity.

We always like to put readers in the thick of the business action but have excelled ourselves this time thanks to the help of Cowes Week sponsors Skandia, who have come up with a place on board a boat in the JP Morgan Round the Island Race on Saturday June 18.

Two lucky readers will win a berth on board famed yachtsman Nick Moloney's Open 60 Skandia as he competes for the legendary Golden Bowl in the seas around the Isle of Wight.

Our winners couldn't hope for a more experienced hand at the tiller as they set sail for glory. Australian born Nick has competed in some of the world's toughest races, including the America's Cup, the Whitbread Round-the-World Race and was a crewman on Bruno Peyron's Jules Verne record-breaking circumnavigation in 2002.

The Round the Island Race, hosted by the Island Sailing Club, was first sailed in 1931 and is known today as the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. It is one of the world's biggest yacht races and one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar.

About 1,600 competitors in yachts of all sizes come from Europe and the USA, as well as all over the UK, to follow the 50-mile course.

Nick said: "The Round the Island Race is an awesome event and one of the most famous in the sailing calendar. I'm really looking forward to sharing our race on board Skandia with the lucky winners, it should be a great day out on the water."

The Skandia name has long been synonymous with major sailing sponsorship worldwide. Not only has the firm sponsored Cowes Week for ten years but it developed an extensive global sailing portfolio of events, teams and athletes.

It couldn't be easier to win- simply stick a business card in an envelope and send it to: Round the Island Race Competition, Business Desk, Daily Echo, Test Lane, Southampton, SO16 9JX. The closing date for entries is Tuesday, June 14.