© GBR1259T 2023
Results - 2015
Bit of a fraught build up to the race as the boat had to be repaired after a collision with Gurnard Ledge and
was only back in the water on the afternoon of the race. Late call from the race officers to reverse the start
direction as it was forecast for light winds and the tide was against. West - East start down the Solent to
Bembridge which we nailed pretty well despite a Class 5 boat parked on the line. Kite all the way to the Forts
then a short beat to Bembridge. Looked at Raffles ahead of us tacking into the island directly past the buoy
and decided it looked a bit dodgy as they appeared to be going back over the ledge so kept going out. Later
found out that Blazer followed Raffles in and hit the ledge but thankfully without any damage. Kept going
offshore for a bit but the angle was not that good so once level with Culver Cliffs tacked into Sandown Bay to
get out of the tide. Short tacked up the shore and popped out past Denose in what appeared to be a fairly
good position to those who had gone out earlier and stayed inshore for a bit to pick up the best of the tide
before heading offshore. Some fluky conditions over night and the next day with holes in the wind and
ended up off the Casquets with about an hour before the tide turned against in the Little Russel. Raffles was
just ahead with Longue Piere, Toot Toot and White Night just inside us, kites up in a light breeze. Just before
the wind died completely we dropped the kite and tacked out as it looked like we could get sucked down the
wrong side of the Casquets which in the case of the three boats inside us was the case. Drifted round the
rocks and as we started heading South the wind picked up so we could get the kite back up. Pretty nervous
about entering the Little Russel with the tide against but as it turned out we got through pretty well and saw
Raffles finish ahead when we were about 1 1/4 off. Frantic calculations as to what speed we needed to finish
in time but as it tuned out we got the win fairly easily by 6 minutes on corrected even with out new higher
rating.