A team of Mylor-based sailors will be heading to the Isle of Wight in July with hopes of winning the UK’s largest boat race.

Skipper Colin Pugh, owner of Kernow Charters and the new proprietor of Smugglers Moorings at Tolverne, will lead a five-strong crew amongst some 16,000 sailors set to tackle the 50 nautical mile course of the 83rd J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on June 21.

Colin manages and maintains the Grand Soleil 50, Sidney II, for owner John Stoker, and has been training John and his wife, Sharan, to sail for three years. Also amongst the crew is another Mylor Yacht Harbour berth holder, Simon Rickets.

John first entered the race two years ago, but engine problems on the journey up from Falmouth meant they had to pull out.

He said: “When we left Mylor two years ago there was a huge amount of intrigue in us going off to do the Round the Island Race, I was actually surprised not more boats locally go up to do it. It was really nice to have that interest in the race.

“We were bitterly disappointed not to have been able to race that time, but we couldn’t go into the race without a serviceable engine, if for whatever reason, we had to retire. That was on a previous boat though, and I hope S2 brings a change of race fortune.

“S2 has already moved from Mylor to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight to allow the crew to familiarise themselves with the waters around the island. We don’t do a lot of racing, but we are looking forward to this one.”