Rock steady crew

A team from Rock Insurance are off to Antigua after becoming the winners of the 2012 McKenzie cup yesterday at the Travel Industry Yacht Regatta.

Held, for the second year in a row, in difficult windy conditions, Rock won two of the three races and completed the series with a second place to win by one point from Giles Travel.

All of the teams sailed in J109 yachts and set off from the Royal Southern Yacht Club just before midday to escape the worst excesses of Hurricane Katia, but from the very beginning it was Rock who dominated the racing.

Rock Insurance managing director Anthony Martin was delighted with the win.

The team will now take part in a follow-up race in Antigua.

"Over the past three years we, in conjunction with TravelMole, have invested a lot of time and effort into sailing both as a pastime but also as a corporate entertainment.

"We are now so pleased to have won having come so close last year. We are all looking forward to the trip to Antigua and hopefully sailing in warmer and calmer seas!"

Other companies which took part in the race were Travelport, Travel2, GetaBed, Marine Travel and the British Travel Awards, who won the best dressed crew award with their stunning Black and gold attire.

The event was sponsored by Virgin Atlantic, Antigua Nice and Travel4sports.

The now famous after party was held at the King and Queen in Hamble with support from Doom Bar Beer and Brugal Rum.