Around the Island Race 2015 - worth going to watch?

thecommander

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Hi there,

Has anybody got any plans for the Around the Island Race this weekend? We're planning/hoping/unlikely to get Yarmouth (backup plan is Newton or Lymington) on Friday night and then head round to the Needles on Saturday to watch the yachties come round. Weather isn't looking too bad might be a good opportunity to get some good pictures of the Needles (I've never seen them from the water before).

From a motorboat perspective is it worth going to see or would we be better staying put? How well marshalled is the race - would a motorboat be allowed to 'tag' along if we wanted to follow them around the Island?

Thanks
 

rafiki_

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I have sailed in the Round the Island several times and it is a great event. The chaos at the Needles is extraordinary, and you would do well to observe from a decent distance.
 

DPH

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You'll need to be up early to see boats at the Needles as the first boats will be going past about 8am. Also looks like it could be fairly windy with tide against it.
I'd prob look to anchor up midday onwards in Osborne bay as boats will be coming close in to escape the flooding tide. In the right conditions expect to get yachts passing inches behind you but fairly safely.
 

lenten

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i went round the island from itchenor on the longest day last year in my small outboard boat---not realising it was the race day---from cowes to the needles i was in a thickness of boats --- weaving my way through---luckily for me there was little wind and everyone was sailing slowly---my maximum speed is 5 knts and i think it would have been difficult if everyone had been sailing at normal speed---there were a number of boats anchored on the solent side of the needles---looked like a good viewing point--as for tagging along with the fleet---i had passed practically everyone by st catherines----back to chichester----85 miles---12 1/2 hours great day
 
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