Monday, August 01, 2011
With light winds forecast, the 122nM route for the RORC Channel Race (essentially a Round the Island race with a dog-leg to Brighton) initially looked challenging, requiring an average of 5kts speed over ground to complete the course in the target time of 24 hours! The downwind start with very little breeze and the tide against saw the competing yachts line up on either the north or south shore - trying to stick in the shallows.
At Hurst Castle the tidal flow was strong, and Visit Malta Puma who had stuck close to the island shoreline were swooshed along and out past the Needles. Jaguar Logic had drifted more mid-Solent at this point in search of wind, but were caught in the westerly tidal flow (away from the Needles) and Jaguar were swept out over the Shingles Bank. Many other yachts fell into this trap and several had to motor back into safe waters as by now the wind had disappeared. The others mostly dropped anchor to try to hold position against the strong tide and the fleet now compressed into a group but VisitMaltaPuma and Quokka's route choice had given them a good lead. The leg around the South of the Isle of Wight was a close reach, conditions favouring those boats with asymmetric spinnakers who flew past the rest of fleet on white sails.
On passing St Catherine's point the overfalls and light winds made it feel like the boats were barely making way, and our best calculations suggested the mark off Brighton was some 30 hours away! A few yachts retired at this point, but those who persevered were rewarded at sun set as the breeze filled in to an unforecast 10 knots! Boat speed picked up and with the roaring tide and a VMG of 9 knots, it suddenly looked as though reaching the mark was feasible! Incredibly, the wind speed was maintained, with most boats rounding Saltdean Light bouy about the turn of the tide - so the tide was carrying us there and then back again! It couldn't have worked out better!
Quokka took line hounours, but two J122s (asymmetrics!) took the title on handicap. The rest of the Sailing Logic fleet finished in quick succession, with Visit Malta Puma finishing 11th in class, with the crew of Interceptor (racing on board Playing Around) finishing just a minute later. Lancelot Logic crossed the line in 10th, but so many boats finished so close together that their handicap really was a handicap. And the same story for Jaguar Logic who battled Addiction to the finish line and whilst Jaguar beat them to the finish line , Addiction claimed the actual victory. After 22 hours of racing, many finishing places were separated by just seconds - a frustrating reminder of all the things you could have done better during the race!
A fabulous race, with sunshine and perfect winds. One of those races when you realise just what a fantastic experience offshore sailing can be!
There are just 2 weeks to go until the Rolex Fastnet, and then the last race of the season is the RORC Cherbourg race. This isn't part of the Fastnet campaign - so if you'd like to join us - you can!
