1 The largest yacht to have entered the Round The Island Race was Velsheda, the 120ft J Class yacht which raced several times in the 1980s and early 1990s.

2 Sir Edward Heath won the race four times, three of them in consecutive years in the early 1970s on Morning Clouds II & III and, in 1980, on Morning Cloud IV.

3 Why does the race change from May to July in different years? Because it is totally dependent on the tidal time. The race needs to commence an hour or so prior to high water and coincide with the maximum amount of day light.

4 The first race began in 1931 and was won by Peter Brett in his converted fishing boat the Merry Conciet.

5 There was a six-year break during the Second World War from 1940-1945.

6 1949 was the first year the race attracted more than 100 entries and 1981 when more than 1,000 entries competed.

7 Major Cyril Windeler, founder of the Round the Island Race, won the Gold Roman Bowl in 1939 in Kalliste.

8 The start sequence is for Saturday's race is

0630 Multihulls

0650 Original and Modern Gaffers; Challenge yachts

0700 Etchells, SBR, Hunter 707s, Dragons

0710 IRC Group 1 (including Velsheda)

0720 ISC Group 1; Sunsail 37s

0730 IRC Group 2

0740 IRC Group 3; Contessa 32s; Sonatas

0750 ISC Group B; Classic Racing Yachts

0800 ISC Group C; Folkboats, Nicholson 32s

9 Prizegiving is 12 noon on Sunday 22nd June at the Island Sailing Club. Emma Richards will be presenting the trophies.