Valid points applicable to most events. I wasn't there so can't comment on the Round the Island event, but I am involved with the Phuket King's Cup Regatta (http://www.kingscup.com) event in Thailand which has grown from small beginnings to become Asia's larges keelboat regatta. We are always looking for sponsors, and to increase more awareness locally among island residents. The comments you make, while applicable to huge event like this are also applicable to our event too (approx. 100 boats).

Good to hear others face the same challenges. Now to fix them…

Valid points applicable to most events. I wasn't there so can't comment on the Round the Island event, but I am involved with the Phuket King's Cup Regatta (http://www.kingscup.com) event in Thailand which has grown from small beginnings to become Asia's larges keelboat regatta. We are always looking for sponsors, and to increase more awareness locally among island residents. The comments you make, while applicable to huge event like this are also applicable to our event too (approx. 100 boats).

Good to hear others face the same challenges. Now to fix them…

Perhaps some of the more enterprising RIB owners could consider taking people out for an hour at a reasonable rate. Nothing like getting out on the water amongst it.

There is much food for further thought and your comments will be taken on board and I am sure some of the points raised are already on the agenda for further discussion by the organisers and sponsors in their various wash-up meetings. It will be interesting to hear also about the competitor feedback a little further down the line.

There is always so much more that can be achieved with additional funding as well.
However, we're right in the thick of an horrendous and unprecedented economic crisis and we should be grateful too and publicly acknowledge the fabulous level of continuing support from this event's title sponsor JP Morgan Asset Management and all of the supporting sponsors, partners, suppliers and a massive group of fabulous volunteers etc.

In the meantime, (and in my personal opinion) I think it DOES matter that the Sunday papers cover this event. It certainly was a massive w/e of sports and I believe this probably put paid to a certain amount of space that would have usually been given up to the RTIR and blisteringly beautiful images, being used to report on other sporting events.

I agree that the race organisers and sponsors should perhaps be persuaded to try and do even more to interest the visitors to Cowes by having at the very least some PA commentary covering the starts and finishes (as per that which is supplied for Cowes Week by Cowes Radio). It may only be for one day, but it's a very important one day for everyone concerned to get right – yes, the on-the- water experience is the priority for the race organisers (the Island Sailing Club) but the shoreside experience should also be deemed by Cowes and event sponsors as providing significant additional value. Providing some more concerted local PR beforehand might be the way to go.

The comment about the Red Jet experience was surprising because these trips to Cowes WERE featuring some really great footage from last year's race which I believe had been organised by the event's title sponsors or its agency. Not sure why the Red Jet would suddenly stop showing it on the day of the event itself!

BTW, the Independent and Observer both covered the race and I saw one of Thierry Martinez's images was on the front page banner of the Observer (top right) flagging up Bob Fisher's coverage inside. Also, Alison Harper and the BBC Breakfast/News 24 crew and Sunset+Vine/APP worked tirelessly. I know 'cos I was there. Perhaps JPM might consider providing some media stats relating to this event when everything has been evaluated.

Credit where it is due and certainly to everyone involved in Saturday's event – whether shoreside on out on the water, they deserve a massive round of applause.

Put next year's JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race date in your diaries now : 19th June 2010.