Round the Island Race 2014

[Halcyon Yachts]

I have agreed to take part in the RTIR this year...

I will be skippering one of the yachts chartered to JP Morgan. I have no idea what my crew will be like and my brief is very much to keep everyone safe, as opposed to winning at all costs!

Although I am asked most years, this will actually be my first time! June is a busy time for deliveries, but the RTIR has been on my bucket list for a while now...

If anyone has any hints or tips then that would be much appreciated? So far the only advice I've had is to stay well away from any Sunsail yachts!!!

Who else will be entering this year?

Looking forward to seeing you out on the water!

Pete

 

[flaming]

I have agreed to take part in the RTIR this year...

I will be skippering one of the yachts chartered to JP Morgan. I have no idea what my crew will be like and my brief is very much to keep everyone safe, as opposed to winning at all costs!

Although I am asked most years, this will actually be my first time! June is a busy time for deliveries, but the RTIR has been on my bucket list for a while now...

If anyone has any hints or tips then that would be much appreciated? So far the only advice I've had is to stay well away from any Sunsail yachts!!!

Who else will be entering this year?

Looking forward to seeing you out on the water!

Pete

I've done a lot of corporate charter stuff so PM me with any specific questions, but my hard won tips would be...

1. Pick your own mate or carefully vet the person they supply, don't rely on the company that found you to find someone else good to sail with you. After all, you're not a regular with them and they asked you....
2. Make practicing tacking your number 1 priority - especially if you get minimal time with the crew before the start.
3. If you get an experienced sailor in your crew, use them wisely. If they've done lots of racing use them as mainsheet. If they're a cruiser they do pit. If you don't get one you need to teach a couple of people how to use clutches as a priority.
4. KNOW THE RULES. You're going to be starting in the IRC group 1. There are some big, powerful boats on that start line, they will obey the rules to the letter - if you don't and "play it safe" you could cause more issues.
5. Remember you are the skipper. If you say it's too windy for a kite it DOES NOT go up. Don't get talked into it by pushy clients. This is by far the hardest part of corporate sailing.
6. The aft bench of a 40.7 is the place to put seasick crew. Clip them on and you don't have to move them when you tack.
7. Booze is for when the boat is tied to the dock.
8. You drive the start, and you're behind the helm until after the needles. If it's windy and you don't have any experienced people you may have to drive all the way round.
9. If none of your crew has sailed before and the conditions are suitable for them to get on the helm, pick a girl. They're so much faster with zero experience.
10. Keep up the chat. It's a long way round the island and sitting on the rail can get dull. Really wish I'd known this simple trick when I started corporates. It doesn't seem to matter what rubbish you come out with, but keeping them involved is really key. The last one I did was a Cowes week, and I just kept up a constant narrative of the race, who'd tacked where, whether I thought that was a good idea, what my plans were tactically, who has right of way etc. It's exhausting but the clients love it, and they were always keen to see if our tactics had worked and we'd popped out in front of the people we'd split from.
11. Simplify your chat. You don't have sheets and halyards and warps. You have red ropes and green ropes and big thick white ropes.

Above all, have fun. If you're not having fun the clients aren't either.

 

[widgeon]

I totally agree with the comprehensive list that Flaming has produced. The only thing that I would add is to try to establish what your corporate crew members' aspirations are before the start if you can. That way you may be able to manage those expectations. Explaining to people who see themselves as great experts that there are other crew members with no experience can help when it comes to that spinnaker conversation. Mind you, it won't with some people!

 

[josephmoore]

I'll be there in a grubby little Hurley 22, many miles back from you I expect but fuelled by pork pies and cheery conversation. Crossing all fingers and toes for a repeat of last year's brilliant weather. It was a tiring event but we felt a pretty big sense of achievement coming mid fleet in a clapped out boat and set out to not take the day too seriously.

My biggest worry beforehand was the sheer volume of boats but we were 10 minutes late to the start line for the final slow boats gun and so it really wasn't too bad - everyone spread out fairly quickly. I guess it gets more crowded and more serious the further up the pack you are.

 

[PhillM]

We will be there in our little 24 1/2 foot MAB. This will be my first time around the island, not just the race, actually around the island! Unless I get chance to practice beforehand.

Our race strategy is to start at the back and stay there! That way we can follow everyone else - which should make nav a bit easier

I did a bit of racing last year @ Cowes Classics so am basically up with the rules. Am unsure if I will have crew capable / willing of helming in very busy waters, so slightly worried about how much will fall to me during the day. But hugely looking forward to it.

 

[Talulah]

I used to enter every year.
Then for the last 3 years I've sailed around the IOW but not entered.
Instead I've overnighted in Newtown Creek and then motored down to the Needles staying out of the way but watching the race leaders. Once at the Needles the flappy things go up and I sail the rest of the way.
I just found it too stressful to be on the start line every year knowing that sooner or later something was going to go wrong or we were going to have to retire due to lack of wind. The other clincher for no longer entering was the entry fee and the SMS texting of final finishing time/position. When the SMS messaging came in I felt it lost some of the fun. No longer queing up for the barge to get your tankard and tat.
You just went home with very little interaction with anyone else. A sort of thanks for your money but no thanks.

 

[Pinnacle]

The only thing I would add to Flamings excellent list is that if when going upwind you prefer to helm the boat from the windward side, you need to allocate one crew member ( who you trust completely! ) to keep an eye out for other ( not necessarily starboard! ) boats and to tell you when you need to tack/bear away. You may remember MoodyNick of this parish was T-boned in the race when he was on starboard a couple of years ago.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

I've done a lot of corporate charter stuff so PM me with any specific questions, but my hard won tips would be...

1. Pick your own mate or carefully vet the person they supply, don't rely on the company that found you to find someone else good to sail with you. After all, you're not a regular with them and they asked you....
2. Make practicing tacking your number 1 priority - especially if you get minimal time with the crew before the start.
3. If you get an experienced sailor in your crew, use them wisely. If they've done lots of racing use them as mainsheet. If they're a cruiser they do pit. If you don't get one you need to teach a couple of people how to use clutches as a priority.
4. KNOW THE RULES. You're going to be starting in the IRC group 1. There are some big, powerful boats on that start line, they will obey the rules to the letter - if you don't and "play it safe" you could cause more issues.
5. Remember you are the skipper. If you say it's too windy for a kite it DOES NOT go up. Don't get talked into it by pushy clients. This is by far the hardest part of corporate sailing.
6. The aft bench of a 40.7 is the place to put seasick crew. Clip them on and you don't have to move them when you tack.
7. Booze is for when the boat is tied to the dock.
8. You drive the start, and you're behind the helm until after the needles. If it's windy and you don't have any experienced people you may have to drive all the way round.
9. If none of your crew has sailed before and the conditions are suitable for them to get on the helm, pick a girl. They're so much faster with zero experience.
10. Keep up the chat. It's a long way round the island and sitting on the rail can get dull. Really wish I'd known this simple trick when I started corporates. It doesn't seem to matter what rubbish you come out with, but keeping them involved is really key. The last one I did was a Cowes week, and I just kept up a constant narrative of the race, who'd tacked where, whether I thought that was a good idea, what my plans were tactically, who has right of way etc. It's exhausting but the clients love it, and they were always keen to see if our tactics had worked and we'd popped out in front of the people we'd split from.
11. Simplify your chat. You don't have sheets and halyards and warps. You have red ropes and green ropes and big thick white ropes.

Above all, have fun. If you're not having fun the clients aren't either.

Thank you - great advice!

Pete

 

[jimi]

There's an awful lot of entries so I propose that they split the race in two the odd numbers go clockwise and the evens go anticlockwise, that should help with the overcrowded start lines.

 

[MikeH99]

TAKE THE TITLE LITERALLY !!!!!

The wreck, Brook ledges, Ryde sands, the opportunities are endless.

Shout early and loudly for priority and have someone on the main who knows what is really meant by dump the main in case of urgent need to bear away.

I'm back this year after a gap of 20 years and am a tad nervous. (See above for possible reasons!)

 

[josephmoore]

...Ryde sands...

I can vouch, Ryde Sands was definitely there last year. Chanced our arm at cutting across - didn't make it by about 50 metres and hit the bottom... oops. No big shakes as it was a rising tide and a lee shore. Just bounced off, gybed round and head across in parallel to the bank. Gained us some ground overall but there were a couple of others further inshore who weren't so lucky

 

[Bobc]

I used to enter every year.
Then for the last 3 years I've sailed around the IOW but not entered.
Instead I've overnighted in Newtown Creek and then motored down to the Needles staying out of the way but watching the race leaders. Once at the Needles the flappy things go up and I sail the rest of the way.
I just found it too stressful to be on the start line every year knowing that sooner or later something was going to go wrong or we were going to have to retire due to lack of wind. The other clincher for no longer entering was the entry fee and the SMS texting of final finishing time/position. When the SMS messaging came in I felt it lost some of the fun. No longer queing up for the barge to get your tankard and tat.
You just went home with very little interaction with anyone else. A sort of thanks for your money but no thanks.

Quite. I can sail around the island any time I want without paying someone over £100 for the privilege.

 

[gregcope]

There's an awful lot of entries so I propose that they split the race in two the odd numbers go clockwise and the evens go anticlockwise, that should help with the overcrowded start lines.

At least there is lots of water to the south of the IOW where the carnage of each direction meeting will happen.

 

[robertt]

I've done a lot of corporate charter stuff so PM me with any specific questions, but my hard won tips would be...

1. Pick your own mate or carefully vet the person they supply, don't rely on the company that found you to find someone else good to sail with you. After all, you're not a regular with them and they asked you....
2. Make practicing tacking your number 1 priority - especially if you get minimal time with the crew before the start.
3. If you get an experienced sailor in your crew, use them wisely. If they've done lots of racing use them as mainsheet. If they're a cruiser they do pit. If you don't get one you need to teach a couple of people how to use clutches as a priority.
4. KNOW THE RULES. You're going to be starting in the IRC group 1. There are some big, powerful boats on that start line, they will obey the rules to the letter - if you don't and "play it safe" you could cause more issues.
5. Remember you are the skipper. If you say it's too windy for a kite it DOES NOT go up. Don't get talked into it by pushy clients. This is by far the hardest part of corporate sailing.
6. The aft bench of a 40.7 is the place to put seasick crew. Clip them on and you don't have to move them when you tack.
7. Booze is for when the boat is tied to the dock.
8. You drive the start, and you're behind the helm until after the needles. If it's windy and you don't have any experienced people you may have to drive all the way round.
9. If none of your crew has sailed before and the conditions are suitable for them to get on the helm, pick a girl. They're so much faster with zero experience.
10. Keep up the chat. It's a long way round the island and sitting on the rail can get dull. Really wish I'd known this simple trick when I started corporates. It doesn't seem to matter what rubbish you come out with, but keeping them involved is really key. The last one I did was a Cowes week, and I just kept up a constant narrative of the race, who'd tacked where, whether I thought that was a good idea, what my plans were tactically, who has right of way etc. It's exhausting but the clients love it, and they were always keen to see if our tactics had worked and we'd popped out in front of the people we'd split from.
11. Simplify your chat. You don't have sheets and halyards and warps. You have red ropes and green ropes and big thick white ropes.

Above all, have fun. If you're not having fun the clients aren't either.

Brilliant!

 

[Sandy]

I've done a lot of corporate charter stuff so PM me with any specific questions, but my hard won tips would be...

1. Pick your own mate or carefully vet the person they supply, don't rely on the company that found you to find someone else good to sail with you. After all, you're not a regular with them and they asked you....
2. Make practicing tacking your number 1 priority - especially if you get minimal time with the crew before the start.
3. If you get an experienced sailor in your crew, use them wisely. If they've done lots of racing use them as mainsheet. If they're a cruiser they do pit. If you don't get one you need to teach a couple of people how to use clutches as a priority.
4. KNOW THE RULES. You're going to be starting in the IRC group 1. There are some big, powerful boats on that start line, they will obey the rules to the letter - if you don't and "play it safe" you could cause more issues.
5. Remember you are the skipper. If you say it's too windy for a kite it DOES NOT go up. Don't get talked into it by pushy clients. This is by far the hardest part of corporate sailing.
6. The aft bench of a 40.7 is the place to put seasick crew. Clip them on and you don't have to move them when you tack.
7. Booze is for when the boat is tied to the dock.
8. You drive the start, and you're behind the helm until after the needles. If it's windy and you don't have any experienced people you may have to drive all the way round.
9. If none of your crew has sailed before and the conditions are suitable for them to get on the helm, pick a girl. They're so much faster with zero experience.
10. Keep up the chat. It's a long way round the island and sitting on the rail can get dull. Really wish I'd known this simple trick when I started corporates. It doesn't seem to matter what rubbish you come out with, but keeping them involved is really key. The last one I did was a Cowes week, and I just kept up a constant narrative of the race, who'd tacked where, whether I thought that was a good idea, what my plans were tactically, who has right of way etc. It's exhausting but the clients love it, and they were always keen to see if our tactics had worked and we'd popped out in front of the people we'd split from.
11. Simplify your chat. You don't have sheets and halyards and warps. You have red ropes and green ropes and big thick white ropes.

Above all, have fun. If you're not having fun the clients aren't either.

what a fantastic post thanks flaming. I know know why I do the type of sailing I do.

 

[flaming]

what a fantastic post thanks flaming. I know know why I do the type of sailing I do.

Well I was earning my crust sailing like this, I didn't do it for fun!

 

[mrming]

I'll be there, a long way back in our little Benny 235. First time doing the race and really looking forward to it!