Sunday evening after the start of the Fastnet drew a large crowd of Weymouth's sailors to Portland Bill. The spectacle of multihulls and huge yachts tearing past the Bill was enjoyed by everyone watching...
but events got much more interesting as the tide started to flood !
Early on the fortunes of boats which went out into Portland Race to avoid the scary rocks versus the ones which braved the inshore passage was quite astonishing with the inshore boats gaining hugely on the others. Weymouth sailors offered 'helpful' advice about when to tack and cheered encouragement as the boats passed close to Pulpit Rock.
As the flood tide built, within minutes the subsequent boats were not so lucky. With port tack favoured eventually each boat had to reluctantly tack on to starboard which swept them backwards, this upset any unfortunate port tackers but provided horror and delight to the onlookers.
I say let's forget Newtons Cove - next year's medal races should be off Portland Bill - for that I would definitely pay to see!
Submitted on 14th August 2011