No deaths have been recorded during the actual racing since its inception in 1851, when Queen Victoria watched the schooner America beat a fleet of British ships around the Isle of Wight.

NPR: America's Cup Fatality Raises Safety Questions

Several other Lincolnshire riders are competing at the event in County Antrim, which is second only to the Isle of Man TT in the British road racing calendar.

BBC: Plater on pole at North West 200

There are currently 11 Fairtrade islands across the British Isles, including Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Wight.

BBC: Isle of Man's 'Fairtrade island status' renewed until 2015

According to their figures, 36 of the 58 reporting airports in the British Isles suffered decreases in August, including the Isle of Man, and three quarters of these airports saw greater declines than Ronaldsway.

BBC: Isle of Man airport figures fall for third month

The meetings come two days after Mr Cameron wrote to 10 British overseas territories and crown dependencies, including the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man, urging them to "get their house in order" and sign up to international treaties on tax.

BBC: David Cameron seeking action on tax avoidance at EU summit

Another major beach clean is being organised on the Isle of Man between 14 and 17 September as part of a British Isles-wide campaign organised by Beachwatch.

BBC: Manx beach clean collects record amount of rubbish

It appears that the opening ceremony is gearing up to be a spectacular beginners' guide to modern British history aimed at a billion people, many of whom know little of our "isle full of noises" or the native tongue.

BBC: Psst - want to pass the new citizenship test?

Britain's Barclays bank was publicly embarrassed in January when a British lawmaker quizzing its boss, Bob Diamond, asked him how many subsidiaries it had in the Isle of Man, Jersey and the Caymans.

ECONOMIST: Tax havens

The Isle of Man will host the Olympic torch on 2 June next year as it journeys across the British Isles in the run-up to the Games in London.

BBC: Isle of Man to host Olympic torch in June 2012