Entries for this year’s J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race are coming in thick and fast via the Race website at www.roundtheisland.org.uk and the Entries team at the Island Sailing Club reports that the first entry received was from an eager Steve Le Butt for his Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 High Spirits.

This is Steve’s 9th consecutive year of entering the Race but last year’s circumnavigation turned out to be somewhat more action-packed than he had first anticipated as he crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron start line in Cowes. His race culminated in him being awarded the inaugural ‘Nautica Outstanding Seamanship Award’ after his crew nominated him for his skill and judgement in assisting in a man overboard incident during the day.

The panel of judges included Race Partners Gavin Crilly-McKean (Nautica Watches) and Simon Boulding (Britannia Corporate Events) who were joined by Dave Atkinson from the Island Sailing Club's race management team. Speaking on behalf of the panel, Gavin Crilly-McKean, commented: "Steve Le Butt is a superb example of a yachtsman acting in a calm manner in an emergency, communicating clearly and using his knowledge and experience to their best effect.

The varying conditions during the race posed challenges and Steve's actions embody the spirit in which this fantastic race is undertaken."

Steve not only received the Nautica Seamanship Award trophy but also a handsome watch, a timely reminder of his excellent handling of an emergency situation. High Spirits secured a respectable 17th place in its 40-strong class, despite the detour. Steve is an RYA Yachtmaster Examiner and principal of the RYA-recognised sailing school Spirit Sailing Ltd. He has many years’ cruising experience including 20,000 miles sailing single-handed.