Oman Sail takes line honours in Round the Island Race

OMAN Sail held off a late charge from triple Olympic champion Ben Ainslie to take the line honours in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.

REASON TO CHEER: Oman Sail take line honours ahead of a late challenge from Ben Ainslie (onEdition for Round the Island 2009)

Ainslie aboard the JPMorgan Asset Management/Team Origin boat could not close the gap opened up by Oman Sail - who had Athens bronze medallist Chris Draper aboard - with Team Aqua taking second.

Team Aqua, helmed by three-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts, finished just 29 seconds behind Oman Sail who won in a time of 6.38.40hours around the 55-mile course.

British Olympic medallists spread through the field with Sarah Webb, Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield also competing among 1,779 boats carrying 16,000 people.

That makes the Round the Island race, Britain's fourth largest participation event after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs raising over £100,000 for charity.