RTIR 2014

[TonyBuckley]

What a great day. I almost entered again, but could not due to other commitments, and my boat is so heavy that light winds would not be good.

My plan for an asymmetric from Exchange Sails [sic] also failed.

Currently 396 boats retired and that number will grow. I believe some had to anchor and wait as no wind.

In some ways, I wish I was there, even though racing holds little interest for me, but it must be a wonderful sight and a fun day!

As Dame Ellen said yesterday, "It's all about enjoying time on the water".

 

[langstonelayabout]

I too enjoyed time on the water involving the RTI.

Wightlink delivered me to Fishbourne and I drove to the High Down rocket test site at the Needles Battery. What a view and getting to see a bit of aerospace and defence history all in one fell swoop. Oh, and the competitors all came in far closer to the cliffs south of the Needles than I ever did.

Fab day. Ice cream, home made sossie sandwiches, a cold beer and home in time for a late tea. I might have to do it all again next year

 

[Hypocacculus]

Only about half the fleet finished in the end; the second becalming at Bembridge broke the resolve of many, although some retired before we'd even reached St Catherins. The stragglers would have been nobbled by the tide. We stuck it out to the end out of sheer bloody mindedness.

 

[aslabend]

Watched it from Hurst, good spectators day, but needed more wind to be spectacular.

It took an age for the boats to get from Cowes to the narrows.

Some people had novel ways of getting the be3st suntan.

 

[neilf39]

It was a long day. Great down to The Needles and doing well. Rounded the Needles and the wind vanished. Drifted to St Catherine's did a circle round a whirlpool with some other boats 5 hours later. Gave up at Ventnor at ~19:00 when the tide turned and motored back to Cowes, arriving at 01:00 Sunday absolutely knackered. Moored up to Gypsy Moth IV overnight. Still, had a great Friday and Sunday. Good sail on both, even got the Spinnaker out for the first time and wondered why we hadn't before. Itworked all the way from wind at 90 degrees to full astern. Much better than the cruising chute I used to use.
Moored at UKSA, very nice staff but v expensive. Moored where they told us but found the boat gone after returning from walk into Cowes. Someone had moved it onto a pontoon with no access (we know who as it was where their boat usually sat but was out of the water) and without telling anyone at UKSA. Luckily we could just see her from where we were. Got her back but had to moor outside early starters so up at 05:30 on the Saturday. Gave everyone a good story to tell as they had never lost a boat before.

 

[RobF]

Less than half the fleet finished with many people retiring (including myself). Got to St Catherines Point at 2pm and drifted with the tide for a couple of hours. Finally retired at 4pm and back to Cowes at 11:30pm (I can't go very fast under outboard!)

With the exception of the lack of wind, it was a brilliant event and I fully intend to do it again next year.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

With the exception of the lack of wind, it was a brilliant event and I fully intend to do it again next year.

Due to lack of wind I was able to make a short film:

I to will be there next year!!!

Pete