Event Background

It was just before Christmas 2005 that Richard suggested to Charles that it would be a good wheeze to sail continuously around the Isle of Wight for 24 hours on a Spitfire. To his credit (and subsequent surprise) Charles agreed. RTI24 was born.

The original intention had been to set a 24 hour distance world record but discussions with the World Sailing Speed Record Council had not progressed sufficiently by the summer to realise this aspect. That and the four-figure sum they wanted to administer it.

Instead the focus shifted to raising money for charity, and whilst the event would not rank as a world record, it would still be the first time that anyone had attempted to sail continuously around the Isle of Wight for 24 hours without physical assistance on a small catamaran. It would also be a very significant personal endurance challenge.