Just two weeks after the fully crewed event, the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's McGuigan Wines Island Double took place on July 7. On this occasion just two people were permitted on board for the 50 mile course westabouts round the Isle of Wight.

It was crack of dawn as over 100 boats gathered off Cowes for the start. The south-west wind was better than forecast, 14 knots powering the fleet away under blue, sunny skies. The first three classes got away cleanly, but with 40 boats vying for a good position on the line, the down tide start caught three boats which were just that little bit too eager.

A few boats stayed too close to the Island shore and caught the reverse tide but all bar one rounded The Needles without incident to hoist their spinnakers for the leg to St Catherine's. The one competitor suffering damage after hitting the wreck was able to return to Hamble unassisted.

Kites were kept flying along to Bembridge Ledge before the boats hardened up again to reach the forts off Portsmouth and Ryde Sands.

Those that kept inshore were protected from the east-going tide and at this point the breeze became unpredictable, changing in direction by 45 degrees and varying in strength from 6 to 28 knots.

Those that stayed in the shallows made the best progress and the tide eventually favoured the lower handicapped entries. IRC1 saw podium places for the three First 34.7s with Salvo the winner for Peter Morton and Richard Allen. The Contessa 26 Sundowner (Jolyon Hutchinson/Rebecca Broomfield) beat Magnus Wheatley's Hesperus into second place in IRC2.

The lively conditions suited Bruce and James Ramsay's Westerly Typhoon Squander in Class 2 RSYC Handicap whilst Fusion III topped Class 3. Carbon Tiger II (Brian Haynes/Martin Harvey) headed the Multihull class.