By Pippa Field
Having spent much of the past few months sailing the high seas all alone, there was welcome company for Lizzy Foreman on Saturday when she took part in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.
A sailor since the age of three, Foreman, who is originally from Worcester Park, is currently building towards taking part in next year’s Mini Transat 2015 – a solo yacht race across the Atlantic in a 6.5m boat covering 4020 nautical miles.
However it was a race of a much shorter distance that was her main attention on Saturday as she joined forces with other sailors to take on the annual 50-nautical mile circuit race around the Isle of Wight.
Sailing aboard Mini Transat Pogo 6-5 Hudson Wight, the former Tolworth Girls School student was one of 16,000 competitors across 1,459 to enter the race.
And while a lack of wind made for a long race around the island Foreman, who crossed the finish line in 12hrs 28mins 54secs for 348th overall, insisted the company made for a pleasant change.
“I love the Round the Island race, it’s a race for all and there are so many boats,” said Foreman who turned 24 on the day of the race.
“This was my fourth time and I really wanted to give my sponsors and supporters a chance to see what it is as they have been really supportive of me.
“The past two months I have basically spent a lot of my time alone which admittedly can get quite lonely.
“Recently I did not see anyone sailing for two days apart from lots of cargo boats.
“If it’s a race, you don’t feel as lonely as the other boats are normally close by. It was great to see so many on the water on Saturday.”
Foreman, who recently secured qualification for entry into the Mini Transat, will now turn her attentions to competing in next month’s solo 2,600 nautical mile Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables race as she steps up her preparations for next year.
Currently in her first ever season of solo offshore racing, she believes it will provide a valuable learning curve.
“It’s one of the biggest races and perfect preparation for next year with it being such a long crossing,” she added.
“I need to prepare well and get used to things like having food for the entire trip.
“I’ve been sailing for 12 years but I have never raced such a distance so it will be good to do it in a race sense and push the boat harder.
“I’m really looking forward to next year, even getting to the start line is an achievement in itself.”
The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race (Saturday 21st June) is one of the largest participation sporting events in the UK and the largest yacht race of its kind in the world. Organised by the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, it is dubbed ‘Britain’s favourite yacht race’, regularly attracting around 1,500 boats and 16,000 competitors.
