SORC Solent to Portland and back races

SORC Solent to Portland and back races © Hamo Thornycroft

SORC Solent to Portland and back races © Hamo Thornycroft

SORC Solent to Portland and back races © Hamo Thornycroft

Solent to Portland

With the AZAB and this weekend's round the Island Race, a reduced fleet of eight yachts set off Friday night form Royal Thames buoy to Portland into twenty knots south westerly wind. Initially keeping to the mainland shore to avoid the last of the flood tide, half way to Hurst yachts dropped into the main channel as the ebb began. Solan Goose led the fleet out through the Needles channel and once clear most the fleet tacked due south to utilize the stronger ebbing tide.

The wind then frustratingly dropped to as little as eight knots forcing yachts shake out reefs which had been in since the start. As forecast the winds started to back southerly and this provided the catalyst to tack onto Port and head west to Portland, most yachts managed to make it there on this tack, however some of the boats towards the back of the fleet were not so fortunate. Just after St Albans the winds increased to twenty five knots and some rain to add to the challenge! This race proving a worthy qualifier for Solo Offshore Channel Week in July.

Peter Olden on Solan Goose took line honors closely followed by Noj White on SX Girl both who maintained their positions under overall IRC corrected time. Simon Mitchell on Sunfast 3200 Roxanne finished just after Ian Hoddle on modified Figaro II Rare a little further back Edith came in just piping Roxanne for third place overall IRC.

The lead boats arrived in Portland Harbour just after midnight and the Dean and Reddyhoff Portland Marina dock master was there to help each tired skipper berthing into 30 knots of wind. Andy Oliver on Mini Transat Prim Avel who without the benefit of an inboard engine was particularly grateful to be met by the marina rib at 0600hrs. Dean & Reddyhoff sponsored the Race and Mary Reddyhoff presented a new Trophy for this race - a beautifully mounted headboard car (the infamous one that failed) from Ellen MacArthur's B&Q trimaran to Peter Olden on Solan Goose - Archambault A35 for first overall under IRC.

Results:

1st Peter Olden, Solan Goose, A35
2nd Noj White, SX Girl, X37
3rd Mike Saqui Edith, Elan 333

Portland return to Solent

The committee boat could only be found with GPS in the dense fog off Portland on Sunday morning, but the fleet set off at 10.05 hrs cleanly on starboard to the shore to tack along to St Albans out of the tide. The fog soon lifted and it was soon evident that Noj White on SX Girl had developed a comfortable lead. With under ten knots of wind Charles Emmett on Sigma 36 British Beagle showed good speed with full headsail, others with smaller non-overlapping sails struggled to live up to their ratings. Simon Mitchell on SunFast 3200 Roxanne battled to keep Mike Saqui on Edith Elan 333 and Ian Hoddle on Figaro Rare behind, Edith finally passing by tacking further into the beach. Peter Olden found that Lulworth cove is not always a pretty place and lost the wind close in while trying to stay out of the tide this let Roxanne, Edith and Rare all pass.

At St Albans Head the wind increased as expected, unexpected was the return of fog - the fleet now tacking into fifteen knots in the fog. The stealth mode inflicted by the fog enabled all to take their tacks and routes under cover for about two hours. When the fog lifted Roxanne appeared to be best placed furthest out to sea close behind SX Girl, while Solan Goose and Edith were further inshore. Approaching the Needles in bright sunshine SX Girl and Roxanne coming in from offshore went down the main channel, while Solan Goose fearing the wind shadow from the Isle of Wight opted for the route via the North Channel, this resulted in a massive gain and afforded a comfortable lead all the way to the finish. Edith also adopted this strategy; however with just two miles from the finish Edith ran out of breeze and was eventually forced to retire.

With at least four different boats leading the race at various stages of the race, Solan Goose once again finished first under IRC with Roxanne taking second from SX Girl on corrected time. With all bar one of the remaining yachts retiring as the ebb tide also began to hinder progress, the perseverance award goes to Charles Emmett on British Beagle finishing nearly two hours later to take fourth spot.