Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this update from the JMPAM Round The Island Race. In their own words. Ed
Just like other years, a number of yachts taking part in this year’s JMPAM Round The Island Race are either Island registered or have the Isle of Wight as their home base.
Included in this number are the four boats sailing under the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust banner, with their supporters hoping to raise a lot of money for the charity. Also on the list is the famous round the world yacht Gipsy Moth IV.
Louise and Peter Morton
Local sailors of note include Louise and Peter Morton who have their home in Cowes. Louise has sailed in this race for over 30 years and is a well known competitor in other regattas including Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.
It was in fact during one Cowes Week, then sponsored by Skandia, that Louise won the Ladies Day Trophy.
Thirty years of racing
About thirty years ago Louise competed in her first Round the Island Race on Jocelyn Waller’s Beneteau Silk and has pretty much competed in every race since.
She missed the 2011 race as she was racing in Kinsale, Ireland where unfortunately she broke her leg.
This year’s race will be sailed on the Quarter Tonner, ‘Espada’ (IRC Class) which Louise has had for five years. Prior to that ‘Espada’ was owned by her husband but the boat was originally built in 1980 by Louise’s Uncle, Mike Evers up on the East Coast.
‘Bullit’ is owned by Louise’s husband Peter Morton and is also a quarter tonner. In fact this year both boats have the same rating. Louise said,
“It is going to be nip and tuck all the way round the Island trying to beat them!”
Peter has won the Gold Roman Bowl three times so he knows his way round the Island.
In the past for the Round The Island Race Louise was a crew member on Peter’s yacht ‘Mandrake’ when this boat won IRC Overall and the Gold Roman Bowl (2002) and another year Louise came fourth overall in IRC on ‘Mandarin’, an International Folkboat, which was the first boat she owned and skippered in the race. Louise was fourth overall again in 2009 on ‘Espada’.
Telling us about this year’s race Louise said,
“It is difficult to predict a time as it depends on the conditions. Top 10 overall in IRC is always my goal. I have achieved that on my own boat four times now. I have an all girl crew this year including the recent Olympian Match Racer Lucy Macgregor, her sister Nicky Macgregor, Colette Richmond, Bethan Carden and Charlotte Lawrence. We plan for our race carefully, select the appropriate sails to take and make a massive effort on making sure we have a good picnic. Charlotte is really good at baking cakes so we always eat well. I like to be on a good competitive boat and have a chance of winning my class.”
Away from her own boat Louise has recently been sailing on a J Class yacht, “This was amazing- They are so beautiful” she said.
