Round the Island

Originally posted by craiggo is that a boat with old traditional lines can with a bit of work be made to perform very well.

Arguably that only demonstrates that the handicapping system is reasonably competent. Given a pure handicapping system a desperate old dog should be capable of winning a race provided that its a well sailed desperate old dog.

I watched a bit of that and saw that little boat, by complete chance SWMBO had decided this years wedding anniversary weekend away in posh hotel should be on the IOW so we had sweeping views of the fleet all but parked up off shanklin in the late afternoon as the gradient East-North East airflow which had been battling the forcasted onshore South South Westerly all day gave up the ghost having won its battle, it was a right mess and many a jib was being furled and engine started. It's easy to sit in judgement from on high but there were some very strange tactical decisions being made indeed. So it doesn't surprise me that a small boat in skilled hands could weave it ways through a fleet in those conditions, I almost wish I'd had a go, I really must try a big boat race one day. It was a great spectacle, the first time I've experienced folk linng up to watch, we were in the Pearl thing as they came round the needles and watched the lead boats pull away whilst there was still a reasonable Breeze, but there was a definite hole down at the needles and I guess an adverse tide? The white sails lboats seemed to take forever whereas the bigger black sails just marched away, then by the time we'd finished touring abotu and returned to our hotel (Which I can highly recommend, the Haven hall) they'd all but parked up, it was painful to watch until eventually just before dusk, the west wind filled in as the heat of the day faded. Has anybody entered in a fast dinghy ever? I assume it's a lipstick bandit job, they're everywhere aren't they?

Edited by iGRF - 04 Jul 19 at 8:19pm

did the wayfarers go around a year or so ago to celebrate an anniversary?

So did he race the RoI with big keels or fin keel? And I assume the boat was re-rated for each change?