It was 4 o’clock in the morning and time to get the adults up (groan, groan!), but we slipped lines and were on our way by 4:30 am with a cheerful Simon, nine crew and the promise of a sunny day. 

 

We were heading for East Cowes for the start of a Round the Island Race organised by East Cowes Sailing Club.  There seemed to be nobody around at this early hour, but then boats suddenly began to appear.  Smaller boats were due to start at 6:05 am, and the bigger boats five minutes later. 

 

We were the longest boat by 20 ft.  A rib from ECSC came along to deliver the SLAM stickers for the bow.  We started at 6:10 am but hearing a gun shortly afterwards went back to the start only to find that ECSC had not meant to fire it. 

 

We were heading west with the asymmetric spinnaker up going at 8 knots – what a sight!   When we reached the Needles, we snuffed the kite and gybed round to head down to St Catherine’s.  It was gunnels under up on deck, while down below one crew member practised his Diversity impression as the boat heeled 30º. 

 

In the distance we could see a boat approaching St Catherine’s.  We thought it couldn’t be in our race, but it turned out to be the Slam boat which apparently had its kite up all the way!  By this time it was 07:30.  We rounded St Catherine’s and continued past Ventnor.  When we were level with Bembridge, we brought out the kite again and had a few problems with the snuffer.  Simon remained cool as a cucumber! We finished fifth over the line in 8 hours 18 mins 22’.

 

After mooring in East Cowes, we took the chain ferry into Cowes for a trip up the High Street, window shopping at SLAM and a view of the Solent from the balcony of the Island Sailing Club.  There was a BBQ for all the boat crews at ECSC in the evening.

 

Sunday’s challenge was the Lutine Classic, with the four boys sailing the boat and adults confined to the forward cockpit (apart from Simon, who talked us through tacks and manoeuvres, told jokes etc). 

 

Liz kept a detailed log of our progress (attached) and we changed helm and trimming position on each leg.  After rounding 9 marks and 16.5 nautical miles our finish time was 2.53.44, with a speed of 7.7 kn over the finish line.  It was a great way to end the weekend.

 

Ed Davison (12)

Oscar Davies (12)

Antony Christopherson (12)

Robin Saunders (14)
 
Mark Course to steer Leave to Mark Type Helm Main Trim Leg distance Wind direction Wind speed Boat speed Speed over ground
NE-SE Ryde Middle     Southerly Cardinal and Port marker Edward Robin Anthony Start NE 8 kn 5 kn 5 kn
West Ryde Middle 275 Starboard Westerly Cardinal Edward Robin Anthony 2.75NM NNE 8 kn 4.5 kn 4.1 kn
East Bramble 60 Port Easterly Cardinal Robin Oscar Edward 1.75 NNE 10.3 kn 5.6 kn 4.8 kn
Norris 220 Starboard Port marker Oscar Robin Anthony 2 NE 13.5 kn 5.7 kn 6.0 kn
North Ryde Middle 50 Starboard Port marker Anthony Robin Anthony 1 NNE 9.2 kn 4.9 kn 5.5 kn
Peel Bank 150 Starboard Port marker Edward Oscar Robin 1.25 NE 14 kn 6.3 kn 7.0 kn
South Ryde Middle 320 Starboard Starboard marker Robin Edward Oscar 0.75 NE 14 kn 7.3 kn 7.1 kn
Mother Bank 110 Starboard Port marker Oscar Robin Edward 2 ENE 11 kn 7.0 kn 7.0 kn
Browndown 360 Port Starboard marker Anthony Oscar Robin 1.25 NE 15 kn 7.3 kn 7.8 kn
North Sturbridge 130 Starboard Northerly Cardinal Edward Robin Anthony 1.75 ENE 14 kn 4.5 kn 5.3 kn
Finish 280 Starboard Southerly Cardinal and Port marker Robin Edward Anthony 2 ESE 11 kn 7 kn 8.3 kn