Carbon Yachting Solo Round the Isle of Wight Race
by Nigel De Q Colley 23 Apr 2013 08:20 BST
20 April 2013
Carbon Yachting Solo Round the Isle of Wight Race start © Rob Packham & Dave Giddings
With over 30 boats already signed up and entries still coming in, SORC's Carbon Yachting sponsored Round the Isle of Wight was once again shaping up to being one of the most popular events in the solo calendar. So it proved on the day, with the bright spring sunshine and a cloudless blue sky adding to the spectacle of the fleet assembling in the Solent off Egypt Point.
Race officers Kirsteen Donaldson and David Giddings had been mulling over the forecast with race director Simon Mitchell and a Plan B was in place for a shorter race round the Needles Fairway buoy if conditions were too light. The forecast picked up just enough to go with Plan A with a shortening option at St Catherine's as well as at Bembridge Ledge just in case.
The fleet set off towards the Needles in a steady breeze with the smallest boat Impro, sailed by the aptly named Richard Breese, holding its ground against its largest rivals, an omen of things to come. After the turn at the Needles, in the last of a foul tide and the wind veering from East towards South, the fleet tacked towards St Catherine's in the sparkling light. With good progress and the breeze remaining steady, the decision was made to press on. Shortly after that, the wind died. Boats drifted in the now favourable tide, some lost steerage and a few had had enough of the frustrating conditions and elected to retire. Those who stuck it out were rewarded when the breeze filled in and steady progress resumed towards Bembridge, where the race was shortened.
After that, the challenge was to get back to Cowes in time for the presentation of prizes by Andy Greenwood of sponsors Carbon Yachting and an excellent dinner at the Island Sailing Club. Richard Breese, of Hunter Sonata "Impro", being the overall winner gets to have a days sailing with Carbon Yachting on a brand new Akilaria RC3 Class 40!! Class winners received an excellent Carbon Yachting donated goody bag.
Overall Results:
Class 1
1st Solan Goose of Hamble (A35, Peter Olden)
2nd Jbellino (J122,Rob Craigie)
3rd Ding Dong (Stewart 37, Chris Rustom)
Class 2
1st Roxanne (Sunfast 3200, Simon Mitchell)
2nd Juliette (J105, Jerry Freeman)
3rd Jacana (J105, Jeremy Waitt)
Class 3
1st Impro (Hunter Sonata, Richard Breese)
2nd Concerto (Contessa 32, George Isted)
3rd Maeva (Super Arlequin, Frederic Waniart)
Multihulls
1st Molly IV (KL28 Espave, Stephen Homewood)
Best Rookie
Concerto (Contessa 32, George Isted)
IRC Overall
1 Impro
2 Concerto
3 Maeva
Full results can be found here (Excel format)
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