The Island Sailing Club (ISC), organisers of the famous JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, has announced that entries for this year's 80th Anniversary Race will open on Friday January 21st. The Race is taking place on Saturday 25th June with the first start at 0600.

Coinciding with entries opening for this iconic yacht race, the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK that regularly attracts 1700+ boats and 16,000 sailors, the ISC will also publish the downloadable Notice of Race on its re-designed Anniversary Race website at www.roundtheisland.org.uk

To celebrate this historic year, Title Sponsor J.P. Morgan Asset Management is creating an exhibition entitled "Round the Island in 80 Years". This will consist f at least 30 images capturing some special moments from across the past eight decades of the Race. The exhibition will be displayed in three separate locations, commencing on 1 March with a major media, sponsors and Club members' launch event in London, before moving to a public display on the Isle of Wight at the Quay Arts Gallery (14-19 June 2010) and finally it will relocate to the Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven (24-26 June) during the Race weekend for all the competitors and Race fans to enjoy. All exhibition images will be available for purchase, with profits being donated to the official race charity.

The photography archivist Karren May is managing the research and production of the exhibition. This has involved digging deep into the archives of many celebrated photographers including Beken of Cowes, Kirk of Cowes and Eileen Ramsay, looking back through 80 years of images, including glass plates, to source the very best images to portray the story of this spectacular event. As well as featuring the images and stories of sporting, political and sailing legends that have competed in the Race, the exhibition organisers will keep to the Race ethos 'A Race for all', by showcasing the memories and pictures of the everyday sailors who have taken part, or been involved in, the Race.

www.roundtheisland.org.uk