Round the Island Race

[BlueSkyNick]

Was it you who asked IslandLink about the rules on swimming? His answer was yes as long the boat finishednwiththe same number it started with!

We only stopped for 20minutes but were still doing 3kts over the ground. As soon as we got the kite up we accelerated to 2kts through the water.

Finished in 11hrs 33mins, 60th overall in ISCRS - happy with that!

 

[Iain C]

Really not good for the slow boats starting last. Clawed our way round the Needles and went round St Cats at about 2 knots. Only problem is we were pointing backwards! Realised we were not achieving anything, we were going to miss any chance of a berth, a beer and some food, so donkeyed the rest of the way. The right decision...we got the very last berth at E Cowes, and at least got to see some other boats on the way back round.

Not a bad day out...although sunburnt to buggery and hoping for a lot more wind next year!

 

[PaulMcC]

First time in the race for me (in fact first time skippering in any race) and had a great time although we all suffered a bit on the Sunday from too much sun. Didn't finish unfortunately. 7:50 start, fair run to the needles (rounded at about 11am), slow run to St Cathrines (rounded at maybe 2pm) but then becalmed. Had fun trying to work out if dropping the main, the only way we could get the boat pointing in the right direction in almost zero wind, was better or worse that putting up all canvas and drifting sideways. We were about half an hour late for the tidal gate at Bembridge and took more than 2 hours to go 2nm against a knot of tide. Rounding bembridge at 8pm and still no wind so called it a day. Got back to Cowes at 11pm. The HM ribs looking after berthing had all gone home but we found a raft against an Elizabethan (that had made it round in time). Lots of fun moments and will definitely sign up again although next time I'll definitely make more effort to have a nap half way round!

 

[WestWittering]

A couple of boats were ashore (shingle bank).


A welcome sight! 13 hrs 27 minutes on a Westerly Oceanlord.

Di

 

[WestWittering]

Was it you who asked IslandLink about the rules on swimming? His answer was yes as long the boat finishednwiththe same number it started with!

We only stopped for 20minutes but were still doing 3kts over the ground. As soon as we got the kite up we accelerated to 2kts through the water.

Finished in 11hrs 33mins, 60th overall in ISCRS - happy with that!

That was JP on Arrifana who asked - and just after we got the reply a breeze kicked in so we wouldn't let him get off..

Di

 

[WestWittering]

Very dull race.

Spent over 2 hours stationary at St Catherines. So went for a swim.

Got round in 13 hours.

We saw you swimming - we were on the OceanLord to your starboard - Tracie, Helen & me were letching through the binoculars and accused of perving by the males on board

Di

 

[Georgio]

While going though the gap at the needles a boat (about 29ft) got itself properly stuck on the Varvassi boiler on the outside of us. Took the inshore lifeboat quite some pulling to get it off, we promptly parked up in the bay just the other side of the needles and sailed inside the rocks there. In retrospect, in the light winds we would have been faster going the long way around and getting some better breeze.

 

[horatio_nelson]

It was a good day out. We retired about a mile pas St Cat's at about 5ish. Apparently only 2 boats of the purple flagged fleet finished, and only 1 of the dayglo green (last and penultimate to start respectively).

Beautiful day though, some amazing sights and lots of laughs too. Was my first RTIR - will definitely have another go next year!

 

[mrming]

While going though the gap at the needles a boat (about 29ft) got itself properly stuck on the Varvassi boiler on the outside of us. Took the inshore lifeboat quite some pulling to get it off, we promptly parked up in the bay just the other side of the needles and sailed inside the rocks there. In retrospect, in the light winds we would have been faster going the long way around and getting some better breeze.

Saw that! He had his engine running so hard to get off the wreck that when he finally got free he nearly went straight onto the rocks.

We stood out initially once round the needles which worked out well, but then we tried to go inside at St Cat's and got stuck in the overfalls for two hours. In retrospect we should have stood out to sea to catch the sea breeze earlier and avoid the overfalls completely. It was our first RTIR and we're not locals so we were just glad to finish in the end, but I am a bit gutted that we held a great position for the first third of the race and threw it away with one error. We'll be back though - a fantastic day!

 

[Georgio]

Saw that! He had his engine running so hard to get off the wreck that when he finally got free he nearly went straight onto the rocks.

We stood out initially once round the needles which worked out well, but then we tried to go inside at St Cat's and got stuck in the overfalls for two hours. In retrospect we should have stood out to sea to catch the sea breeze earlier and avoid the overfalls completely. It was our first RTIR and we're not locals so we were just glad to finish in the end, but I am a bit gutted that we held a great position for the first third of the race and threw it away with one error. We'll be back though - a fantastic day!

Normally it doesn't pay to be that far out but the mixture of being late to the needles (so less foul tide south of the island) and the lack of wind made it better to stay south this year. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but at least we were first in class to the needles and worked our way back from there....

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Apparently only 2 boats of the purple flagged fleet finished, and only 1 of the dayglo green (last and penultimate to start respectively).

That's not accurate, I'm afraid. Take a look here ....
http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/we...lts&page=results2014&classrequest=240&submit=

You need to bear in mind that each group is subdivided into four divisions to give more chances of a prize.

Glad you enjoyed it, anyway !!

 

[M_S_Dean]

Sat at St Catherine Pt for about an hour drifting with the others. At one point we had a face off with this yacht for about 10 mins while he try to get it to face the right way for the course.
View attachment 43454

 

[st599]

Looking forwards to next year. Praying for 30kts breeze and 11 knots surfing the waves near St Kats.

 

[Pinnacle]

Looking forwards to next year. Praying for 30kts breeze and 11 knots surfing the waves near St Kats.

Hhmmmmm......be careful what you wish for......

 

[Giblets]

Looking forwards to next year. Praying for 30kts breeze and 11 knots surfing the waves near St Kats.

Been there, done that, not nice!

 

[lpdsn]

Was it you who asked IslandLink about the rules on swimming? His answer was yes as long the boat finishednwiththe same number it started with!

RRS 47.2 No person on board shall intentionally leave, except when ill or
injured, or to help a person or vessel in danger, or to swim. A person
leaving the boat by accident or to swim shall be back on board before
the boat continues in the race.

I always liked the wording of that rule!

 

[andy59]

a bit of phone video showing the conditions of the needles .

 

[horatio_nelson]

That's not accurate, I'm afraid. Take a look here ....
http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/we...lts&page=results2014&classrequest=240&submit=

You need to bear in mind that each group is subdivided into four divisions to give more chances of a prize.

Glad you enjoyed it, anyway !!

Oh OK, ta I was just repeating what I'd been told. Shame it wasn't the case, it had made me feel much better about retiring!

 

[st599]

Been there, done that, not nice!

Done it 3 times now. Most fun sailing I've ever done.

 

[savageseadog]

Can anyone who did the race sum up what the overall situation with the wind was? I'm interested to get an idea of what the gradient wind was doing and how the sea breezes worked.