(Southampton, England)- Despite the forecast for winds touching Force 8
early in the morning and the overcast cold conditions for the British
“Spring”, 82 of the 102 double handed yachts entered decided to brave it
out on race day. They were rewarded with a NE wind of F5-6 reducing to
F4-5 in brightening conditions as the day progressed.
The course was East about round Isle of Wight and with the 07.05 to
07.45 starts the boats had to contend with initial choppy conditions in
the Solent although tide was flowing with them through the forts. The
RLYC line was used and because of the fast tide across the line, most
were line shy apart from Class 2 which saw 3 boats return.
The early starters had a fast reach to Bembridge where they met some of
the biggest seas of the day. Some chose to stay offshore, others to gybe
into Sandown Bay but neither route seemed to give a significant
advantage. Some tried kites as they ran down to Dunnose in the foul tide
and 20 knots of true but many opted for the more cautions option of
poling out the headsail. Once round Dunnose, boats slowly hardened up
for the Needles in relatively smooth seas with the tide now under them.
At the Needles Channel and Hurst the NE wind and initial foul tides were
challenging with boats trying to tack in the shallows out of the tide.
Inevitably a few pushed their luck a bit too far with 4 grounding on the
falling tide, being left high and dry but still managing to get off
some hours later. Once out of the Needles Channel, the shallower waters
of the Mainland side were favoured by most for a hard beat up the
western Solent to the Beaulieu before a final welcome fetch to the
finish line and a welcome rest.
On handicap, in Class 1 the J/Teams took five of the top ten spots!
Third was Paul and Mark Griffith’s J/109 JAGERBOMB. Fifth was Bill West
and Steve Counsel sailing their J/109 JO JO GUNNE. Sixth was a J/1059,
Richard Cashmore and Tom Barker's SLINGSHOT. Eighth was the J/109
JUMUNU sailed by Elliot Wishlade and Julian Sutherland. Ninth was the
J/122 JBELLINO, the OSTAR Class winner sailed by Rob Craigie and Deb
Fish.
In Class 2 the small boats came through on the tide with the J/97 JIKA
JIKA sailed by Mike and Jamie Holmes finishing in tenth. Just behind
them in 11th was the J/92s HULLABALOO with Andrew Dallas skippering. In
Class 3, the J/80 ALAMARA B sailed by Adam and Paul Charlesworth
finished fourth in class.
For more Royal Southern YC Island Double Race sailing information