This year as Round the Island Race competitors await their starters orders, Sarah Gosling (pictured), has stepped in to replace Dee Caffari and Sam Davies on the first starting gun at the Royal Yacht Squadron. 

Olympic games followers will remember Sarah as one of the three blondes in a boat who won gold in the Yngling Class in Beijing. 

Olympic medallist Sarah formerly Webb is now Mrs Adam Gosling.  Today she said that she was quite suprised to get the call inviting her to start the Round The Island race, moreso as she is also competing in the event herself.

The tidal conditions dictate this year that the first start will be at 7.30am a friendlier time for both competitors and spectators. There are good vantage points all round the Isle of Wight for friends and families to watch the progress of this spectacular fleet round the classic 50-mile course.

Organisers of the Round the Island Race originally invited Vendee Globe Heroines Dee Caffari & Sam Davies to fire the first starting gun for the 2009 event.  However sailing fans will already know on June 15th,  Dee and Sam set off  on their attempt to break the record for sailing around Britain and Ireland.

Thanks to the staggered start times Sarah will still have time to race from the starting gun to join her husband on the Corby 30.

Follow the JPMAM Round the Island Race as it happens, view live online textual updates here…

View Island Pulse Round The Island Race News HERE:

Caffari & Davies To Launch RTIR With A Bang

Girl Power Sets Sail Round Britain & Ireland