Any tips for first time in RTIR?

pteron

pteron

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I've been invited to join a rather exciting boat for the race.

I'd like to understand the tactics for this years conditions - all the stuff I can find is for older races, so the tides and winds are different.

Anyone care to share their tactics for this race? Any other tips?
 
My read on the conditions is that it's going to be light, probably north west.
Anyone has a forecast they trust more, do tell!

So the start will be absolutely crucial. The leg to hurst looks like a 2 sail reach on Starboard. Clean air is the priority, work hard in the last minute before the start to get yourself some space.
Tidewise the tide runs hardest just off the green outside the line of mooring buoys and just north of Gurnard buoy. So that's the best place to start, but if there's a huge bunch there the odds of being the one or two boats who get an clean lane are pretty slim, so you might consider starting further out. Your'e allowed to use you engine until the 5 minute gun, so aim to make the final choice at least 7 minutes out and don't spare the horses to get to where you want to be in those 2 minutes and stake your claim on that part of the line.

If the wind angle suggests you can fly a kite, do so. If something bigger and faster than you approaches from astern go high early to show them you won't be rolled. The first leg is not the time for polite "after you" sailing, be ruthless in protecting your clean air.

All the way out of the solent your priorities are clean air and good tide, in that order. Once you have clean air, work to the best tide, but don't sacrifice clean air for tide. Unlike last year, really big splits will open up in the fleet, as the rich will get richer, and the poor poorer all the way to the needles.

After Hurst the best tide is along the southern edge of the shingles, so aim there if you have the freedom. You should be now thinking about your kite, if it's not already up, specifically when to hoist. If you're on the Northern edge of the channel you will almost certainly have time to hoist the kite as you cross the channel, especially if you're going for the gap...

Picking the time to cross is probably the hardest job the nav will have all day, big tide, light winds, boats concentrating for the turn..... Fun for all the family that!

Once round the corner the exact conditions will come into play. Unless you are one of the very last starts the tide will still be running hard to the west, so tidally inshore is the way to go. But in a Northerly or north westerly breeze, there is unlikely to be much in the way of wind under the cliffs.
My tip for that leg is going to be look for, and sail to, the wind. I think it's probably unlikely that you'll be able to get close enough inshore to get out of the tide, so just play the shifts and gusts to make the best progress possible.
If it's as light as they are saying do not be tempted to run deep, but come high and sail the angles. If that leg is nearly a run it's a great excuse to get the gybing practice in! Although if there is enough west in the wind, inshore starts looking good again....

For most of the fleet it's after St Cats that the tide might be starting to turn, make sure you know when this is, but again, in light winds coming off the island I doubt that hard inshore will pay even if the tide is still running against you.
Make sure you keep an eye on the laylines to Bembridge Ledge, overstanding will cost you.

No man's Land fort is not a mark this year, and the tide is now likely to be running to the east, so cut the corner as hard as the tide, windshadow and your keel allow.
The final leg looks like a beat up the island shore. Charging in hard at Ryde sands is tempting, as does offer some good gains, but it's not a stratergy for those with flimsy keels, it's pretty much a ledge. As you close on the finish you'll need to balance the windshadow in Osbourne bay with the much less tide to be found inshore.
Of course, if it's really light, or you're in a small boat the tide may well have turned back west by the time you're back in the solent, in which case just stay in the channel and play the windshifts.

Oh, and don't make the mistake of going to the wrong finish line.....
 
Flaming
Excellent advice - what do you use as your criteria for cutting inside the Varvassi. The picture of the lifeboatman standing on the boilers (ok at exceptional low water springs) is a useful reminder of how it isnt where you think it is!!
 
Aerial photos.

If you've got a copy of solent hazards there are some good photos in there that give an idea how far out the wreck is.

Otherwise, in light weather you can identify goose rock, go as close as you dare to that, then turn HARD south.

The gap is bigger than you might think though, the two previous times I've been through I was overlapped 2 or 3 boats out, closest to the wreck, and got through fine.

In light winds, be very aware of the tide, and don't be afraid to hail inside boats who have the right of way for room.

Despite the fact that I decidedly didn't take my own advice, I wouldn't reccomend trying this passage for the first time during the race, especially if it's busy.
 
needles.jpg
 
Thank for that Flaming. After years of promising we are finally doing RTI. Our ISC rating was a disappointment, we're in with some 44' boats whereas a Sigma 36 or Dehler 36 CWS is in a lower class, interesting? Wave when you overtake! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks for the advice and information, invaluable stuff. Is goose rock the left hand circle in the picture?
 
I dunno, that class looks pretty good to me!

here

My guess is that the big boats in there won't be flying kites. A good tactic for heavy boats in strong winds, but with light winds forecast you'll waft past them on the south of the island.

We start 20 minutes ahead of you, but don't wave if you pass us, we'll be having a really bad day! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the advice and information, invaluable stuff. Is goose rock the left hand circle in the picture?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.
 
If you want to take a punt, screw Cowes green. Yes there is more tide but in the forecast conditions there wont be any clean air there and boatspeed will be a problem. Take a flyer and head up to the ODM for your start.

Easy for me to say. I'm taking Jojo home to meet my mother instead.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you want to take a punt, screw Cowes green. Yes there is more tide but in the forecast conditions there wont be any clean air there and boatspeed will be a problem. Take a flyer and head up to the ODM for your start.

Easy for me to say. I'm taking Jojo home to meet my mother instead.

[/ QUOTE ]

It will probably be a close call. If I was in a J I'd be really tempted by that, pop the kite, roll the whole fleet sailing low, then drop it if I couldn't hold it on the direct course to Hurst and continue. The tidal difference is quite marked though, so if your boat doesn't go much faster for a 10 degree bear away it might not be worth it.
 
Great advice from Flamming so very little to add, Having been round on various boats over the last 10 years, the key(as mentioned by Flaming) is to try and get as much clear water and air as possible.
 
It's ten degrees and clean air Ed. means no need to work your way back onto the Shingles either.

I have no reaching gennaker or chute but I do have a gurt big light genoa.

I think that is where I would be but then it is easy when you are not putting your boat where your mouth is.
 
Flaming
On my J109 and was already tempted by your strategy. Might put the A5 up as can sail much higher than with A2. All depends on how much North in the West. We are green fleet (IRC2) off at 820 so will have half the fllet to aim for....
Have a good race everyone
 
(I'm not looking at a chart, but...)

From memory the middle of the line is about where the transit of hurst and the northern edge of the main channel in the west Solent hits the squadron line.

It varies by exactly where, and state of tide, but there's between half a knot and a knot more tide in the channel than north of it. So in my mind the direct line between the ODM and Hust is out, you have to get South.

I agree about clean air, a lot will depend on if the wind angle allows you to have clear air further down the line, and your boat's performance profile.

Guessing that for some lighter boats the ODM will be the obvious choice, and for heavy cruising types the extra distance will be tough to regain.

But hey, that's why we get to the start area so early, to make these calls!
 
Bloody 109s!

We rate 1.030, so slap in the middle of the 109s. Last year we beat the lot to the needles (absolute blinding start coupled with our perfect upwind conditions) then had to sit and watch 109 after 109 come sliding past on the leg to St Cats!

But yeah, you have to work with what you've got. A code 0 would be high on my list of sails I'd love to have onboard for this race!

I'll be watching with interest to see if you guys can make it stick!
 
maybe on someone elses boat.... but not mine... my moto is keep out of the way of everybody else even if your right ! most in ISC don't understand racing rules.
 
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