TeamO Cowes to Weymouth Race
by Tony Tahourdin, JOG Captain 16 Apr 2025 07:38 BST
12 April 2025
TeamO Cowes to Weymouth Race © John Green /
www.instagram.com/solentsailphotography/
Saturday 12th April saw the prospect of the perfect race to Weymouth with a run/reach the whole way but the likelihood that the wind might die in the late afternoon to be replaced after a few hours by a Westerly airstream. Well that is what it looked like at the PredictWind weather briefing until the Arome model had updated on Saturday morning to suggest the wind would die earlier.
At the start it looked as though we were in luck with a gentle following breeze. Classes got away on time with class 4 & 3 boats mainly starting inshore but with one or two, particularly Ugly Duckling electing to face the tide slightly further offshore - it did not appear to pay off! Towards Hampstead Ledge there were some calm patches, with some managing to escape, but those left behind (and all the later starters) had to move offshore to get the best of the wind. Progress down the Solent was a start/stop affair right down to Bridge buoy where much of the fleet bunched up again.
A Southerly shift at Bridge saw spinnakers doused, only to be raised again minutes later for a fine reach towards Anvil and St Albans. The wind change and the strong ebb tide swept some unlucky boats to the north of Bridge, necessitating some time costly efforts to get back to leave it to starboard as demanded on the course instructions. Simples, with just 0.1m beneath the keel, resorted to the motor to avoid being washed onto the Shingles Bank forcing her later retirement. After Bridge the fleet seemed to spread out again but, with periodic holes in the wind, one of the smaller boats sat near the front of the fleet whilst the odd Class 1 boat was seen struggling at the back. Most boats were able to carry spinnakers or Code Zeros between Bridge and St Albans but, yet again, parts of the fleet came together around St Albans. The ebb tide close to the cliffs between Anvil and St Albans appeared to run considerably stronger than half a mile out and one or two boats gained considerably doing this.
After St Albans the wind once again flicked round and for a while spinnakers had to be dropped only to be raised again shortly thereafter. As always there was the usual split between those who chose to follow the rhumb line for the finish and others who dipped into Weymouth Bay in the hope of picking up a stronger tide. Jetpack seemed to benefit but our former Captain who had slipped back down the rankings was seen sneaking around St Albans a bit late in the day and did the same which paid, at first, handsomely, but eventually Scream like most others, succumbed to the dying wind.
By 17.00 with the tide on the turn and the wind light or nearly non-existent, leading boats still had about 7 miles to go. At this stage there was the inevitable debate about whether it was worthwhile hanging on and missing dinner ashore or retiring. Sadly, 2/3rds of the fleet chose the option of the bar and dinner but the determined stuck it out with Mzungu finishing at 18.55 followed just 2 minutes later by Simples who subsequently retired. With finishers in each class spreading themselves over the next couple of hours, the well sailed Laser 28 Moondog showed that patience can pay off and finished at 23.31.
Overall Results:
Class 1 Tangent Minus (Arcona)
Class 2 Mzungu (JPK) plus line honours and double handed
Class 3 Jetpack (JPK) with Chris Haslkam aboard and the Generation JOG winner
Class 4 Adelie (X332)
A record entry for JOG Weymouth race with 60 starters and what a sight tied up in the harbour overnight. Thanks to our sponsors TeamO who provided vouchers and trophies for the winners, and to Henri-Lloyd for the Generation JOG voucher. The planned prize-giving was derailed, but recipients will have a nice surprise in the post!