What better way to celebrate the return of the south-westerlies than spending a day offshore, just checking that everything still works – and waiting to see the Normandy Channel Race fleet go by!
Tipped off by my French met guru David Lanier, on Monday morning I set off into increasingly murky conditions, though, as is often the case, there was less wind offshore than this side of Portland; I stayed east to avoid the effects of the ebb near the Shambles, and low cloud and occasional rain meant I was keeping watch on radar and AIS to make sure nothing was going to interrupt my lunch, rather pessimistic about seeing anything..
Then, as the sky began to clear, I saw a sail heading up from the south-east, and a number of blobs began to appear on the AIS, while animated conversation began between the range safety vessels and the leading boats, who didn’t want to lose their line of approach to Portland by tacking out to sea! Hoisting the ‘tricolore’, I was able to put myself (momentarily) among the leaders to try to take photos, though a Class 40 doing 8 knots upwind in the 12 knots blowing proved quite difficult to catch, as the cloud cleared to leave a glorious afternoon and a clear view of Portland.
I was just able to catch Nicolas Jossier and Alexandre Toulorge (MADE IN NORMANDIE) as they powered past holding on to a lead they had developed out of the Solent, and was able to wave to Bruno Joudren, whom I last saw at the Olympic Village when he was sailing the French Sonar, and his crew Thomas Ruyant (NORMA CONCEPT), holding a good second place slightly to windward of Sebastien Rogues and Ludovic Aglaor (GDF SUEZ), who managed to pick up a slightly stronger current inside at the Bill which enabled them to take the lead across Lyme Bay, though this morning Jossier and Toulorge are defending pole position with a seven-mile lead as they round Land's End – go to http://www.normandy-race.com/index/carto to watch their progress.
(Footnote: I learned later from David that Nicolas Jossier appreciated the support from WSC as they sailed through ‘our’ waters!)
If you would like support with your offshore practice prior to the Centenary Challenge Cruise, remember we are here to help you gain confidence so as to make that event as enjoyable as possible - you only have to ask..
Steve Fraser
Cruiser Class Captain
