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Lewis Hamilton to race around the Island

12:50pm Wednesday 25th June 2008

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HE is more used to hitting speeds of 230mph on the world's quickest racetracks.

However, Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton will be swapping his high-performance McLaren Mercedes car for an altogether different racing machine when he takes to the water for the Round the Island Race.

Hamilton has teamed up with top Hampshire sailors Alex Thomson and Ben Ainslie, who will show him the ropes on board Thomson's Open 60 yacht Hugo Boss.

The yacht is currently the fastest monohull on the water after Gosport-based Thomson smashed his own world record for the longest distance covered in 24 hours, sailing 501.3 nautical miles at an average speed of 20.9 knots.

Hamilton, who narrowly missed taking the world title in his Formula 1 debut season, said he was keen to see how racing on water compared to racing on land.

The 23-year-old said: "What a boat to go out for my first ever sailing race - on the world's fastest monohull and racing with Ben Ainslie and Alex Thomson.

"I am interested to see all the technology that goes behind this boat and the similarities between racing on the water and racing on a track.

"I'm looking forward to the start, no fixed start position, just all those boats fighting it out for the best space on the start line."

The race, which starts at 6am on Saturday, will see more than 1,800 yachts embark on a 55-mile course heading west through the Needles, round the back of the Island before finishing in Cowes.

Thomson, 34, who earlier this year took second place in the Barcelona World Race, said: "I met Lewis the first time a few years ago when he was driving in the Formula 3 Championship.

"He is one of the most talented sportsmen on the planet, and I am really looking forward to showing him the ropes on Hugo Boss."

Olympic medal winner Ainslie, from Lymington, joins the team ahead of his attempt at a third consecutive gold in the Finn class in Beijing this summer.

Hamilton has endured a recent run of bad luck on the track, having failed to score points in his past two races and falling ten points behind championship leader Felipe Massa, of Ferrari.

Sheffield Utd manager Kevin Blackwell will also join the fleet on TP52 Volvo for life.


Your Say YourThis is Hampshire

jamie, says...
1:08pm Wed 25 Jun 08

So will there be a chance to see him? signing or anything? Where will the boats leave from?

Oh No, says...
1:21pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Lets hope they don't run up the back of the boat in front!

Worried!, Southampton says...
1:48pm Wed 25 Jun 08

I wouldn't want to be on the Red Funnel Ferry with him out there!

Lunatic.

Might even give Hedge End McD's a miss on the Sunday night too.

Bernie Ecclestone, says...
2:20pm Wed 25 Jun 08

I'd just like to express my gratitude to Lewis for coming along and inventing Formula One, because, if you believe the press, the bl00dy thing never existed before he arrived

Simon, says...
2:40pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Hamilton has endured a recent run of bad luck on the track, having failed to score points in his past two races and falling ten points behind championship leader Felipe Massa, of Ferrari.


Due to over-confidence and an inflated ego. If he came 4th or 5th in his debut season, he would be aiming to improve and be doing better this season. IMHO.

J, says...
2:48pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners.

He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.

Bambi, says...
3:04pm Wed 25 Jun 08

J wrote:
Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners.

He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.
Heh heh yeh, he'll be so annoyed that the hoverjet is in front of him he won't think to brake

Race Man, says...
4:37pm Wed 25 Jun 08

J wrote:
Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners. He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.
You are a moron.

Name one driver in F1 that hasnt had a quality car and won the thing. Oh you cant. He is actually a very good driver if you look at his history through Go Karts to F3, he was a very good driver, i remember a f3 race where he was at the bottom and finished in first.

He has a bad attitude, but so did Schumacher, Senna, Alonso, Mansell. You dont win anything being nice. Also why would a top quality driver go to Honda or Red Bull? When clearly they are gash.

Cook Pass Babtridge, says...
4:44pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Race Man wrote:
J wrote:
Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners. He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.
You are a moron.

Name one driver in F1 that hasnt had a quality car and won the thing. Oh you cant. He is actually a very good driver if you look at his history through Go Karts to F3, he was a very good driver, i remember a f3 race where he was at the bottom and finished in first.

He has a bad attitude, but so did Schumacher, Senna, Alonso, Mansell. You dont win anything being nice. Also why would a top quality driver go to Honda or Red Bull? When clearly they are gash.
And that makes him a moron, does it? People round here have very high - not to mention bizarre and arbitrary - standards of intelligence

Cook Pass Babtridge, the real one says...
4:47pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Cook Pass Babtridge wrote:
Race Man wrote:
J wrote: Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners. He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.
You are a moron. Name one driver in F1 that hasnt had a quality car and won the thing. Oh you cant. He is actually a very good driver if you look at his history through Go Karts to F3, he was a very good driver, i remember a f3 race where he was at the bottom and finished in first. He has a bad attitude, but so did Schumacher, Senna, Alonso, Mansell. You dont win anything being nice. Also why would a top quality driver go to Honda or Red Bull? When clearly they are gash.
And that makes him a moron, does it? People round here have very high - not to mention bizarre and arbitrary - standards of intelligence
Yes it does, people need to look at the facts. He may not be a quality driver (yet, he is only early 20's) but look at it correctley.

McClaren wouldnt sign him if they thought he was a Average driver would they? They would sign Jenson Button, who clearly is and that is why he has never signed for a big team.

Think people

Jamie, says...
5:10pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Standards of intelligence? Clearly lacking on this website! People dismiss Hamilton because of thier bias to ferrari and general jelousy of the 23yr old. The boy is without doubt englands most promising talent in f1 for years! Also where has he shown bad attitude? Some of you guys know no differance between confidence and arrogance!

Cook Pass Babtridge, says...
5:14pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Cook Pass Babtridge wrote:
Cook Pass Babtridge wrote:
Race Man wrote:
J wrote: Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners. He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.
You are a moron. Name one driver in F1 that hasnt had a quality car and won the thing. Oh you cant. He is actually a very good driver if you look at his history through Go Karts to F3, he was a very good driver, i remember a f3 race where he was at the bottom and finished in first. He has a bad attitude, but so did Schumacher, Senna, Alonso, Mansell. You dont win anything being nice. Also why would a top quality driver go to Honda or Red Bull? When clearly they are gash.
And that makes him a moron, does it? People round here have very high - not to mention bizarre and arbitrary - standards of intelligence
Yes it does, people need to look at the facts. He may not be a quality driver (yet, he is only early 20's) but look at it correctley.

McClaren wouldnt sign him if they thought he was a Average driver would they? They would sign Jenson Button, who clearly is and that is why he has never signed for a big team.

Think people
Sorry, but, no, that does not make anyone a moron. Can't you just say "I disagree with you"? Or do you have so little faith in the strength of your arguments you have to discredit and insult people with whom you disagree? Bit sad, really, if that's the case

Bambi, says...
5:24pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Jamie wrote:
Standards of intelligence? Clearly lacking on this website! People dismiss Hamilton because of thier bias to ferrari and general jelousy of the 23yr old. The boy is without doubt englands most promising talent in f1 for years! Also where has he shown bad attitude? Some of you guys know no differance between confidence and arrogance!
I think a lot of people are down on Hamilton because of the all-encompassing coverage he gets. The ITV F1 coverage now is basically the Lewis Hamilton Show, and no matter what's being discussed, the commentators manage to slip Hamilton in somewhere. Hell, even his father gets more coverage than a lot of the drivers do. If Hamilton doesn't get a podium, then it seems there's nothing else worth reporting on.

Of course he's a talented driver, but he's being treated more like a friggin' rock star or something.

Realistic, The Real World says...
7:14pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Cook Pass & Bambi:

Spot on chaps, well said both.

Paramjit Bahia, Southampton says...
7:43pm Wed 25 Jun 08

Race Man wrote:
J wrote: Hah! Hamilton! What a deusche. I bet he fails to see the boats in front of him and somehow manages to cut a few corners. He is a sub-par racing driver, who has been lucky to land in an OK car. No one would make a big deal with him if he was racing, say a Honda or a Red Bull.
You are a moron. Name one driver in F1 that hasnt had a quality car and won the thing. Oh you cant. He is actually a very good driver if you look at his history through Go Karts to F3, he was a very good driver, i remember a f3 race where he was at the bottom and finished in first. He has a bad attitude, but so did Schumacher, Senna, Alonso, Mansell. You dont win anything being nice. Also why would a top quality driver go to Honda or Red Bull? When clearly they are gash.
Sterling Moss. But then you are probably too young to remember him. He used to race for Rob Walker in coustomer cars and nearly won the World Championship, which Ferrari clinched through team orders.

Yes you are right about pointing Schui's attitude, probably that's why despite being the best he failed to get same respect which Moss still gets.

By the way I am disappointed with you describing the person you do not agree with as Moron, motor racing fans do not behave like football followers. But then everybody isn't the same.

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