Next two Fastnet Races to finish in Cherbourg

Seems worth a try - after all they do send the tour here.

Should be interesting seeing the fleet dodging all the commercial traffic plying the channel mind.
 
ip485 said:
Should be interesting seeing the fleet dodging all the commercial traffic plying the channel mind.
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Ooo err that is a good point. The shortest route would temp racers to slice through the Casquets TSS at a fine and illegal angle. I wonder if they will introduce a race course mark to prevent that? Guernsey to Port.
 
All the TSSs are out of bounds for the Fastnet race... This includes three of them around the Isles of Scilly and one really close to the Fastnet rock itself..

RORC racers are quite familiar with racing across channel.. The ships always add a little extra :)

It's actually quite tricky staying out of the TSS just going down channel towards the Eddystone if you're on a beat.
 
Having read several complaints about the loos in Plymouth I wonder if this is allow some improvements?
 
The claim being made is that it allows more entrants because of the facilities in France. I guess the French will start from the UK and enjoy the arrival back in France. I don't know how this event is currently run regarding berthing but I imagine after a long race, struggling to find berths in the UK before heading home to France is the problem. If the objective is to increase the number of entrants, then it makes sense as France are big sailors and support the industry.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
I don't know how this event is currently run regarding berthing but I imagine after a long race, struggling to find berths in the UK before heading home to France is the problem.
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I assumed that one's entry to the race included an assigned berth in Plymouth for the subsequent festivities. Bit crap to be crossing the finish line with someone grovelling around on the VHF asking "do you have a berth for tonight?"

Sounds like they had to limit numbers for lack of available places in Plymouth, whereas with Cherbourg's local government on-side they can arrange more berths there and allow more entrants.

With my conspiracy-theory hat on I do wonder whether Sutton Harbour being awkward might have had anything to do with it, but I have no evidence for that whatsoever.

Pete
 
Plymouth always seemed to be a bit of a dreary, dull, anticlimactic finish; not sure why, but it did.

And contrary to what many believe Cherbourg is intensely nervous of losing British yachting custom, either by reason of post-Brexit restrictions, or arguably worse, through a perception that British yachts are not really welcome there any more.

Bagging the Fastnet Race finish following a year or so of quite intensive self-help measures is therefore seen as major coup.

And rightly so; it may very well turn out a win-win for all.
 
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dom said:
Plymouth always seemed to be a bit of a dreary, dull, anticlimactic finish; not sure why, but it did.

And contrary to what many believe Cherbourg is intensely nervous of losing British yachting custom, either by reason of post-Brexit restrictions, or arguably worse, through a perception that British yachts are not really welcome there any more.

Bagging the Fastnet Race finish following a year or so of quite intensive self-help measures is therefore seen as major coup.

And rightly so; it may very well turn out a win-win for all.
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Just wait for the French fishermen to kick off when their fishing become more restricted!
Personally, I hope that reductions and changes from the dilariously stupid common fisheries policy will be gradual as it is really not fair to cut anyone off in a big shut down event - it should be a change over several years. Of course conservation of fish stocks must be top of the agenda - sorry thread drift.
 
What are the dates that yachts will be expected to return? I always travel to & from Cherbourg on my summer cruise to the CI's. I stop there to visit a friend for up to a week at a time. I do not want to have berthing hassle.
 
I raced in this year's race. I have to say, with the exception of the RORC race 'village' there was very little in Plymouth to commend having the race finish there. I'm sure that the french will invest more heavily in supporting the race - very much to the benefit of the city's profile and status.
It's Plymouth's loss, Cherbourg's gain.
 
The original/existing race was 608 miles. The new course is expected to be 90 miles further..

The previous course, after leaving Cowes, basically left all the main south coast headlands and Land's End to starboard, then left the fastnet Rock to Port and finally left the Isles of Scilly to Port on the way back.

So on the way out you could go either side (or through) the Isles of Scilly, but you had to pass outside all the islands on the way back. I'd expect the course to be the same, apart from the finish!

All TSSs are out of bounds.
 
Thank you. I suppose Scilly Isles to port takes care of itself now. I am wondering if there will be another mark to keep the race fleet reasonably clear of shipping approaching Cherbourg The new distance keeps the race in line with the Bermuda, Sydney Hobart, South China Sea, etc., races.
 
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