The event sees Olympic medallists and round-the-world skippers mix with first time racers and family cruisers in this unique event. The challenge for everyone is the same: to complete the 50 nautical mile course round the Isle of Wight. 2007 saw a record number of finishers.

This year, the day started overcast but breezy as the boats tacked down to The Needles. The main problem on the next leg, to St Catherine's Point, was visibility as banks of low fog rolled eastwards. The sea condition south of the Isle of Wight was variously described as grim, hairy, wild, lumpy and on the edge. As the leaders returned to the Solent however the sun came out and the wind lessened but became shifty, keeping everyone on their toes to the end.
With a brisk west-southwesterly holding steady for the first part of the day, Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard was able to complete the 50 nautical miles course at record speed, breaking his own time set in 2001 racing Skandia Leopard, by over 12 minutes.

The race usually favours either big or small boats, but the results overall in IRC showed a real mixture at the top of the leader board. First came a big boat from IRC0, Ran - TP52, followed by last year's Gold Roman Bowl winner Edward Donald in his 25 foot Folkboat Madelaine, with another TP52, Henri Lloyd Cutting Edge, eight seconds later on corrected time.

The ISC Rated Class showed the top boat and winner of the Silver Gilt Roman Bowl . Willem Wester in his brand new Grand Soleil Antilope. He also wins the JPMorgan Asset Management Family Trophy, racing with his wife, daughter and granddaughter Emily aged 13. Twilight a 1961 Robb Lion design was second for Patrick Moreton from Cowes. Just 22 seconds later on corrected time came the South Coast One Design Marbella (Mark Taylor).

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