J/122s and J/105 Lead First Event!
(Hamble, England)- Irish skipper Paddy Cronin sailing Rod Knowles's J/105 JULIETTE won the out and return races respectively with port hoist spinnakers the whole way from Solent to Poole and a beat from start to finish on the return to be leading IRC2 Class. In fact, JULIETTE won the IRC Overall in the Solent to Poole leg.Seemingly becoming another top choice of short-handed sailors is the J/122. The near-winner of last years 2009 OSTAR, Rob Craigie's J/122 JBELLINO, was first boat to finish on both legs, setting the pace and beating out a well-sailed open Class 40 called Sunguard Front Arena both times. JBELLINO garnered a 1-1 score to be leading IRC1 Class and just behind her is David Cule's J/122 MINT JULIP with a 2-3 tally to be second in IRC1.
The Coastal series is a brand new event for the Solo Offshore Racing Club and the first two races to Poole to Solent and back were specifically designed to attract new skippers and give the more experienced shorter races to hone their techniques early in the season.
Nineteen spinnakers set off from Royal Thames towards Poole at 0830 on Saturday 8 May in an eight knot northeasterly breeze. Most of the fleet took the North Channel and rhumb line straight to the finish off Poole, a shy reach only easing for the last mile. The tighter angle from Hurst to the finishing line suited the asymmetric boats, especially Cronin's J/105 JULIETTE and the two J/122s, JBELLINO and MINT JULIP.
Tides meant a welcome late start at 1130 on Sunday into ten knots northeasterly for the return beat to windward. At the start, the majority of the fleet struggled to cross the line on starboard. Tidal atlas said less tide inshore so some boats went up the shore, but the main fleet was tacking up the rhumb line. About half way up to Hurst the wind backed for quite some time which lifted the boats further offshore on to a lay line for Hurst and meant the inshore boats had to free off. Through Hurst Castle "straits" the two J/122s were in the top three and when the wind increased to 14+ knots Rob Craigie's JBELLINO powered ahead and took line honors again as she did Saturday. Their next race is to Weymouth and back 9 & 11 July. For more Solo Offshore Racing information