Round the island

[Guest]

After a modest performace last years rti which was hindered by poor tactics, this year I would like to perform slightly closer to my handicap.

Does anyone out there wish to share secrets on how to get round quicker than the others?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

Patrick

 

[rogerroger]

stick the motor on ? ;-) nm

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[WayneS]

sail faster

 

[bedouin]

Wayne's right - the real answer is in maintaining good boat speed.

Check the tides to ensure that you make the most use of the favourable stream, and are least hindered by the adverse current (e.g. stick to main channel in W Solent, but closer inshore from Needles to St Caths) but other than that get the boat sailing as well as possible.

 

[tcm]

Re: spare sails

1) You need a mate with a similar boat. Lendim a sail with the same sail number, set off in blank sail, then he changes to blank sail number, and you change (a bit further up) to sail with the number.

2) Don't stick motor on until correct tack so exhaust is under water. Leave behind any crew that you even slightly suspect will grass you up.

3) Chuck away all excess weight, especially water, that overweight navigator mate, outboard, liferaft, anchors, anchor chain, all those tins in the cupboards and the hardback cruising guides to Britttany. Not the fuel, of course, you need that.

4) get some large saily looking pieces of material. Chuck these over board behind you as some attempts to tack behind, and they have to bear away loads and loads. Askem nicely if they'll help find the spare sail.

5) Inflatable crew. Throw dummies overboard in brightly coloured old sailing clothes. Others might be attracted by free clothes, and/or by possible glory )or even by free inflatable person..)

6) the incredibly loud hooter. Power stations will have these. You need a decent inverter. make all the correct sound signals but at 300 decibels.

7) Friday sander. Lift boat on Friday, hose it down, and get sanding.

8) The nite before. Get lots of lot of old heavy chains, and some fine multistrnd cable with snap shackle at one end. Clip these to bottom of swim platforms.

9) Scuba gear is cheap. For 500 quid you could rope together quite few competing boats before the off.

10) Set a limit to the amount of money you plan to spend on uprated equuipment. Beyond this, divert funds to bribery. Going rate is £10k for an adjusted top 3 slot, £25k for first in class, £50k for outright winner. How do you think all the committee send all their kids to mega-expensive boarding schools?

Hope this helps.

 

[rogerroger]

Books?

I ordered "Wight Hazards" - it gives all the stuff to avoid round the back of the IOW - might give you an edge if you can confidently get close to stuff others are giving a wide berth...

I cancelled my order after the race committee snubbed me for not having a sail number...so will be anchored up, watching others sweat and shout while I drink cool beer...

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Twister_Ken]

1. Look for clear air at all times, but esp in the Solent (both ends).

2. Know how to clear the Vervassi wreck (bottom of coastguard building just clear of top on Needles light)

3. If a SW'ly get close inshore between Needles and St Caths. Then get closer still.

4. I've always lost out on the St Caths - Bem Ldg leg so can't offer advise.

5. Don't get trapped by other boats at the fort. This is a great way to lose places. And don't sail into the fort's wind shadow.

6. If the tide is against you (it will be unless its a very slow race), choose one shore or the other to work the shallows coming back up the Solent, and work them hard - but don't get stuck on Ryde sands! SOmebody will be sitting there showing you the shallowest bit!

7. Being clever about judging your last few tacks can pick up a whole bunch of places at the finish.

8. Make your final leg one the that cuts the finish line at the angle closest to 90 degrees.

 

[Guest]

Sail someone else's boat!

I'm a keen racer but I won't risk my boat in the annual Isle of Wight demolition derby! Too many clowns out there who don't know the difference between the bow and the stern, let alone any rules.

 

[Oldhand]

You missed trying to stay in the strongest current down the West Solent and to the Needles. I believe in general max flow is roughly 2 cables offshore from a line joining all the Island shore headlands. If you can keep in this area and in clean air, you are on a winner. Also don't be intimidated by larger, faster or posh looking boats, shout starb'd at them doubly loud. If stuck to leeward of another yacht under kite round the back of the Island, get close enough to the problem to point out to them that if you braoch you will be luffing them. This usually opens the gap and lets you clear your air! Don't let others take your wind from behind, stearing something other than a straight course helps in this but you should be "going-up" in the lulls and "going-down" in the gusts anyway. The number of possible tricks are endless.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Agree about W Solent tides, but that is where everybody wants to be and clear air can be hard to find. IMHO clear air is much more important.