International Freight Forwarding Outfit Ventures Out to Sea in Round the Island Race

UK – Freight Forwarding group Bellville Rodair International (BRI) sent two vital members of staff on a maritime challenge when the BRI sponsored Bella of London in the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island yacht race at the weekend (1-2 June). The crew for the Grand Soleil yacht set off at 05:40 and included both Terry Walpole, BRI Chairman, and Katie Ould, Key Account Manager – Automotive aboard.

The crew were a mixture of new and moderately experienced crew who fared well and made it back to the pontoon for a late lunch and celebratory drinks by early afternoon after finishing the course at 13:23. That finish time of 7 hours 43 minutes saw the boat come 320th out of 1,459 entries to secure 25th position in its group (ISC Division 4A). The annual race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight.

The event regularly attracts around 16,000 sailors, pitting world class sailors and relative novices against one another and making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. Competitors hail from all over the UK, other parts of Europe and as far away as the USA to follow the 50 nautical mile course round the Isle of Wight. The international flavour suits the UK based, award winning forwarder which now has offices established in thirteen countries from Turkey to Brazil.

Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westwards to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy, and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes. Katie Ould, for whom this was her sixth race, said:

“We did well to complete it in just under eight hours and it was great to achieve such a strong position in our class. It was a fantastic race and a big thank you to all the crew for making this possible. For me, the time we achieved makes it my fastest attempt yet so a personal best.”

Photo: The jubilant BRI team celebrate their success.