An all round good time
Of the 15 Weymouth boats who entered this years Round the Island race, 8 turned out at 7am on a beautiful sunny morning for the first ever feeder race to Cowes. Using Weymouth Sailing Club (hut) start line the wind died minutes before the start to leave many yachts on course side. Some 15 minutes before all were away and patience soon ran out with Rattler being the first to retire closely followed by Manana. This only left Tumba Rhumba in the PY class but their frustrations got the better of them and they motored off to Cowes. Those remaining were soon rewarded by a freshening breeze and they thundered towards St Aldhelms. After a few tangles with the range boats the headland was rounded & the Needles lighthouse was in sight. Unfortunately the wind died across the bay and the transit times taken at St Aldhelms were used to finish the race. 4 boats made declarations all of them IRC class.
Once in Cowes the partying began and a prize giving for the feeder race was held. A turtle trophy for the longest passage time was presented to Ricky Bruton on Sapphire. The turkey trophy was awarded to Kevin Stibbs on Draig O'r Mor for not filling up with fuel, despite the dodgy wind forecast, and running out 5 metres from the pontoon in East Cowes. The IRC trophy was won by Rob White on Crew Cut who sailed 2 up. 2nd place Draig O'r Mor, 3rd Keoma (Nick Sharp) and 4th Sapphire. The following morning preparations started early with the earliest of our starts being at 0520. The start line was hectic and the atmosphere electric. The tide raced across the line and it was easy to get carried away both emotionally and literally ( as both Loo-Lah and Crew Cut found out to their 5% penalty) With spinnakers hoisted on the gun the gentle breezes made for easy sailing down to the Needles, the 'he who dares' turning point. Many yachts went up tight to the rocks, inside the Varvassi wreck, but most took the safer outside passage. Fetching down the South West side of the island hardly any spinnakers were carried and those who did provided a spectacle with their flogging mains and broaching antics. A St Catherine's the wind went light and freed under the cliffs so spinnakers could be hoisted albeit for a short while before returning to a white sail fetch up the south east side. At this point it got rather breezy. With a lot of entrants convinced that the wind would be dying by now, most were ridiculously over-canvassed. Those who had not left the majority of their sail wardrobe in the closet could be seen frantically changing down a gear. The wind was pretty consistent from then on. After the Bembridge buoy and a bit of a beat around Ryde sands it was a fairly free starboard tack to the finish. Without the normal beat up in shallow water tacking against the tide, it was a bit of a procession with few manoeuvring gains to be made and little room for tactical advantages.
Of our 15, Mistress pulled out before the race, & Loo-Lah had to retire with rigging problems. All others completed in good time and some excellent class results
As a weary bunch of sailors celebrated in the pub in East Cowes. Somehow, in the excitement, a plan was hatched to have a PY race back for the unpresented PY trophy. A Le Mans style start was planned with a 6am 'slip your mooring' sailing instruction. Now someone was busy during the night. Manana had a shock when they came to cast off. Someone had gaffer taped their mooring ropes to the pontoon cleats and zip tied every available sheet and halyard in position. Despite this act of sabotage Manana soon caught up in the Charge of the Weymouth Brigade at 6 knots + down the river to open water. Kirsty shook her fist & declared Ricky OCS as he had slipped 10 secs early (despite having sychronised his watch with me on Friday). But we all managed to stop motoring and sail in the glorious conditions of the Solent. A fair romp to the needles with spinnakers flown from Yarmouth, the wind died again around St Aldhlems and we all motored home. This PY Trophy is jinxed. A grand weekend – If anyone is considering doing Round the Island next year just ask one of this years entrants, it's well worth doing. Kay StibbsDraig O'r Mor
