A SALISBURY sailor will be in one of the 1,700 boats competing in one of Britain’s largest sporting events this year.

John Spottiswood and the seven crew of Irene will be among 16,000 sailors set to master the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on June 27. The island is the Isle of Wight.

Spottiswood’s team will race to raise money for The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust (EMCT).

The crew, who’ve known each other from a young age, are racing in memory of a keen GK24 sailor who died of leukaemia four years ago.

The friends competed that year and hope to repeat their success of 2011.

Spottiswood said: “When Steve was in the hospice in his last days, I witnessed families going through very difficult times.”

“I had a moment of reflection thinking how lucky I had been in my life and that these poor children and their families had only had a short time together.

“As a result we decided to enter the 80th anniversary race in 2011. It was a particularly windy year and as we made our way along the south coast to the island we saw many boats turn back. However, we were determined to reach the start line off Cowes to meet friends who we hadn’t seen for 20 years to race in Steve’s name.”

The famous 50 nautical mile course around the Isle of Wight is now in its 84th year and is organised by the Island Sailing Club.

The race caters for first timers, families, amateurs and professionals competing at the highest level.

The ‘Race for All’ ethos is supported through EMCT, where over £189,000 has been raised.

Spottiswood added: “I put it to the group how lucky we had all been in our lives and perhaps in some small way we could help others. We agreed that raising funds for the EMCT fits the bill perfectly.”