L - Ollie, our bowman, breakfast call! R - Ready for lift off!!
L - Estrella Dam, a new Open 60, OCS'd the start R- Old Venom
L - The Author trying to look serious R - Happy days, with Jim, Joe and Charlie
Sat 28th July
Choosing to arrive on Friday evening to ensure a good night sleep before the days racing meant 6 of us managed a good meal and some beers in the Island Sailing Club and an opportunity to hear some of Dereks war stories, to be expected after 40 years big boat racing. I’d have particularly liked to have seen him chainsawing the deck off a perfectly good 45’ racing yacht at Cowes yacht Haven simply because on handicap the hull was no longer competitive!! Now that’s dedication to winning if I ever I saw it!!
Having fuelled up on strong coffee and pancakes at Tiffins it was time to get to the GBR yard to meet the rest of the crew. Notable absentees were Jane and Mark, however replacements were provided in the shape of two different Jane and Marks!! I’m intrigued whether Sandra and Derek could find a replacement Ebernezeh!! We were also joined by Dee to whom we were all very grateful for the unending cups of tea, biscuits, crisps and the ever present donuts and sausage rolls.
Having stepped on board, Ollie was immediately sent up the mast to attach the stay sail deck stay, I’m not sure who was more traumatised him by the altitude or me having to keep up with Roddys pace as we ground him up the mast in top gear! With preparations made we motored out to join the rest of the fleet at 9am.
First order of the race was to parade in front of the committee boat with our storm jib up. Apparently this is just a formality since under no circumstances would we ever hoist such a flamboyant (brightly striped orange) sail practically because the boat will behave better in a strong wind without, and cosmetically it clashes terribly with the new paintwork!
Todays race was going to be a sprint. After the start of the Royal Yacht Squadron, we would be beating to the needles and then heading for a point 40 miles West, rounding the E Shambles cardinal off Portland. Then heading generally South into mid Channel to the RORC Offshore Buoy 15 miles South of St Albans Head, running to the Ocean Safety Buoy off Selsey Bill before closing onto the breeze to leave Bembridge Ledge to port, through the Forts to the Finish at Royal Albert Buoy off Gilkicker Point, an approximate distance of 146 miles.
The wind was generally expected to be westerly 16-20 knots with a fold expected in the late evening where the winds would become more southerly upto 30 knots as a weather front passed through before returning westerly. As it turned out the front arrived early ie 9pm and the winds averaged over 20knots for most of the race with up to 35knots in the small hours of Sunday.
Dereks son Mark was tactician for the day, so armed with the Deckman tablet PC and with Jane providing race start commentary he drilled us through sail set and boat trim. Initially there was some discussion as to the best end of the line to start, the mid solent end appearing to give a better wind angle for the Needles, but having less favourable tide so in the end we chose an inshore start with code 4 headsail. With seconds to go before the gun for our class start at 1030 we were well places, windward of the fleet within 3 boat lengths of the next boat sailing along the line. Just before the gun, we were headed by the next boat pushing us marginally over resulting in us being called OCS with the new Open 60 Estrella Dam. This meant we had to go back and restart which we duly did, although Estrella chose to ignore the recall and thus ended up with a DNF at the end of the race.
With work to do we were all hiking hard, although Venomous goes well on a beat and so we were soon overtaking the fleet in company with the open 60s, Volvo 60’s, and Formidable (who always seem to be somewhere nearby). ICAP Leopard the Farr 30m with over 35 crew on board was well past all everyone by the time they reached the Needles, we had the Open 60’s and Volvo 60s close by as we tacked past the Hurst forts. Martin taught us how to improve our tacking techniques, by speeding up the ‘cut’ where you spin the working sheet off the winch as the boat crosses head to wind on the next tack, to the point where we were getting from one tack to the next in 2-3 boat lengths.
With the sun out we were all hiking hard on the rail, seeing 10-12kn SOG in moderate seas and 20kn of wind as we closed the E Shambles marker (approx 50 nm from the start). We changed the code 4 for a the jib top as we started to bear away for the cardinal mark and then the fun began.
With the next mark the RORC Offshore buoy about 30nm, and the RORC safety mark 40nm further again we would have 70nm of asymmetric sailing mid English channel in 25-30knots of wind providing up to 20knots of boat speed!! As the A2 Kite went up, the acceleration was amazing, Venomous lifting the bows as she stated to surf down waves whilst those behind started to catch us up and then fall by the wayside as the boats speed increased. To steady the boat we also hoisted the stay sail, which increased our speed even further, rapidly overhauling Pindar (Volvo 60), and streaking away from Formidable. The extra speed kept Derek busy on the wheel with only slight inputs needed to direct the boat around wave tops and on course. It was as close to being on a 60 foot roller coaster you can get. All the steady rolling motion you get on a normal boat disappears to be replaced by small rapid direction changed overlaid on a huge sensation of forward speed a bit like water skis. Exhilarating. Unfortunately just as we were settling into the sleigh ride, the asymmetric kite tore from the tack line so all spare hands went forward to bundle it through the hatch. This introduced us to another technique called letter boxing where the sheet is led through the gap between the boom and the mainsail, so that in strong winds when dousing a kite you are able to keep it under control as it is pulled down and through the slot created at the foot of the mainsail.
Luckily it was soon to be Dereks birthday so with a resounding chorus of happy Birthday to you his birthday present, a general purpose mast head A2 kite was hoisted which enabling us to continue blasting our way to the RORC Ocean Safety buoy. We got there around 2100, leaving us just over 25nm to go to the finish. Down came the staysail and the Asymmetric and up went the #3 as we headed NW for Bembridge ledge. The weather front arrived early, with a steady drizzle as I took over from Derek for a stint driving on a course of 285M. the wind really started to pick up such that the main sheet trimmer was having to release the sheet on a regular basis to allow the helmsman to stay on course, although the situation was helped by everyone getting out on the rail again regardless of the weather conditions. Around 10pm we came past the Nab Tower light which seemed incredibly close as we passed to starboard of it, heading for the dim lights off the port bow provided by 6-7 ships anchored off Bembridge ledge waiting to get clearance by Solent VTS to enter Portsmouth or Southampton ports. As we continued on our course through the forts the dim light of a buoy off Gilkicker point came into view followed by a flashing orange light some way off to port… our finish line. We rapidly closed the distance and were welcomed by a sharp toot on the fog horn as we finished just after midnight at 0009. Elapsed time 13 hours and 39 minutes to do 146 nm giving an overall average speed of over 10.5 knots!!
With our work done, down came the headsail which the foredeck crew efficiently flaked into its sail bag whilst the main was dumped unceremoniously onto the deck to be tended to on the dockside. With the engine on and a good lockout kept for unlit racing markers we motored up to Cowes and after mooring up, got the battens out of the main, flaked and rolled it into its sail bag and headed for our respective bunks either on Venomous or Incisor.
Sunday 29th July
Around 9am I headed off for the red jet having checked the result.
1st in the SZ class (known in racing circles as a bullet) by over 20mins and 9th on IRC overall. An excellent days sailing and setting us up well for the Fastnet to come in 2 weeks time.
Total miles raced to date 743 nm of which 583 qualify for Fastnet entry (the rest were on Bear of Britain for the aborted Myth of Malham race.
Choosing to arrive on Friday evening to ensure a good night sleep before the days racing meant 6 of us managed a good meal and some beers in the Island Sailing Club and an opportunity to hear some of Dereks war stories, to be expected after 40 years big boat racing. I’d have particularly liked to have seen him chainsawing the deck off a perfectly good 45’ racing yacht at Cowes yacht Haven simply because on handicap the hull was no longer competitive!! Now that’s dedication to winning if I ever I saw it!!
Having fuelled up on strong coffee and pancakes at Tiffins it was time to get to the GBR yard to meet the rest of the crew. Notable absentees were Jane and Mark, however replacements were provided in the shape of two different Jane and Marks!! I’m intrigued whether Sandra and Derek could find a replacement Ebernezeh!! We were also joined by Dee to whom we were all very grateful for the unending cups of tea, biscuits, crisps and the ever present donuts and sausage rolls.
Having stepped on board, Ollie was immediately sent up the mast to attach the stay sail deck stay, I’m not sure who was more traumatised him by the altitude or me having to keep up with Roddys pace as we ground him up the mast in top gear! With preparations made we motored out to join the rest of the fleet at 9am.
First order of the race was to parade in front of the committee boat with our storm jib up. Apparently this is just a formality since under no circumstances would we ever hoist such a flamboyant (brightly striped orange) sail practically because the boat will behave better in a strong wind without, and cosmetically it clashes terribly with the new paintwork!
Todays race was going to be a sprint. After the start of the Royal Yacht Squadron, we would be beating to the needles and then heading for a point 40 miles West, rounding the E Shambles cardinal off Portland. Then heading generally South into mid Channel to the RORC Offshore Buoy 15 miles South of St Albans Head, running to the Ocean Safety Buoy off Selsey Bill before closing onto the breeze to leave Bembridge Ledge to port, through the Forts to the Finish at Royal Albert Buoy off Gilkicker Point, an approximate distance of 146 miles.
The wind was generally expected to be westerly 16-20 knots with a fold expected in the late evening where the winds would become more southerly upto 30 knots as a weather front passed through before returning westerly. As it turned out the front arrived early ie 9pm and the winds averaged over 20knots for most of the race with up to 35knots in the small hours of Sunday.
Dereks son Mark was tactician for the day, so armed with the Deckman tablet PC and with Jane providing race start commentary he drilled us through sail set and boat trim. Initially there was some discussion as to the best end of the line to start, the mid solent end appearing to give a better wind angle for the Needles, but having less favourable tide so in the end we chose an inshore start with code 4 headsail. With seconds to go before the gun for our class start at 1030 we were well places, windward of the fleet within 3 boat lengths of the next boat sailing along the line. Just before the gun, we were headed by the next boat pushing us marginally over resulting in us being called OCS with the new Open 60 Estrella Dam. This meant we had to go back and restart which we duly did, although Estrella chose to ignore the recall and thus ended up with a DNF at the end of the race.
With work to do we were all hiking hard, although Venomous goes well on a beat and so we were soon overtaking the fleet in company with the open 60s, Volvo 60’s, and Formidable (who always seem to be somewhere nearby). ICAP Leopard the Farr 30m with over 35 crew on board was well past all everyone by the time they reached the Needles, we had the Open 60’s and Volvo 60s close by as we tacked past the Hurst forts. Martin taught us how to improve our tacking techniques, by speeding up the ‘cut’ where you spin the working sheet off the winch as the boat crosses head to wind on the next tack, to the point where we were getting from one tack to the next in 2-3 boat lengths.
With the sun out we were all hiking hard on the rail, seeing 10-12kn SOG in moderate seas and 20kn of wind as we closed the E Shambles marker (approx 50 nm from the start). We changed the code 4 for a the jib top as we started to bear away for the cardinal mark and then the fun began.
With the next mark the RORC Offshore buoy about 30nm, and the RORC safety mark 40nm further again we would have 70nm of asymmetric sailing mid English channel in 25-30knots of wind providing up to 20knots of boat speed!! As the A2 Kite went up, the acceleration was amazing, Venomous lifting the bows as she stated to surf down waves whilst those behind started to catch us up and then fall by the wayside as the boats speed increased. To steady the boat we also hoisted the stay sail, which increased our speed even further, rapidly overhauling Pindar (Volvo 60), and streaking away from Formidable. The extra speed kept Derek busy on the wheel with only slight inputs needed to direct the boat around wave tops and on course. It was as close to being on a 60 foot roller coaster you can get. All the steady rolling motion you get on a normal boat disappears to be replaced by small rapid direction changed overlaid on a huge sensation of forward speed a bit like water skis. Exhilarating. Unfortunately just as we were settling into the sleigh ride, the asymmetric kite tore from the tack line so all spare hands went forward to bundle it through the hatch. This introduced us to another technique called letter boxing where the sheet is led through the gap between the boom and the mainsail, so that in strong winds when dousing a kite you are able to keep it under control as it is pulled down and through the slot created at the foot of the mainsail.
Luckily it was soon to be Dereks birthday so with a resounding chorus of happy Birthday to you his birthday present, a general purpose mast head A2 kite was hoisted which enabling us to continue blasting our way to the RORC Ocean Safety buoy. We got there around 2100, leaving us just over 25nm to go to the finish. Down came the staysail and the Asymmetric and up went the #3 as we headed NW for Bembridge ledge. The weather front arrived early, with a steady drizzle as I took over from Derek for a stint driving on a course of 285M. the wind really started to pick up such that the main sheet trimmer was having to release the sheet on a regular basis to allow the helmsman to stay on course, although the situation was helped by everyone getting out on the rail again regardless of the weather conditions. Around 10pm we came past the Nab Tower light which seemed incredibly close as we passed to starboard of it, heading for the dim lights off the port bow provided by 6-7 ships anchored off Bembridge ledge waiting to get clearance by Solent VTS to enter Portsmouth or Southampton ports. As we continued on our course through the forts the dim light of a buoy off Gilkicker point came into view followed by a flashing orange light some way off to port… our finish line. We rapidly closed the distance and were welcomed by a sharp toot on the fog horn as we finished just after midnight at 0009. Elapsed time 13 hours and 39 minutes to do 146 nm giving an overall average speed of over 10.5 knots!!
With our work done, down came the headsail which the foredeck crew efficiently flaked into its sail bag whilst the main was dumped unceremoniously onto the deck to be tended to on the dockside. With the engine on and a good lockout kept for unlit racing markers we motored up to Cowes and after mooring up, got the battens out of the main, flaked and rolled it into its sail bag and headed for our respective bunks either on Venomous or Incisor.
Sunday 29th July
Around 9am I headed off for the red jet having checked the result.
1st in the SZ class (known in racing circles as a bullet) by over 20mins and 9th on IRC overall. An excellent days sailing and setting us up well for the Fastnet to come in 2 weeks time.
Total miles raced to date 743 nm of which 583 qualify for Fastnet entry (the rest were on Bear of Britain for the aborted Myth of Malham race.
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