Once more into the breach

Entries now being taken for the Holt Tide Ride

Many sailors say that short-course racing offers the biggest bang for your buck in dinghy racing. Well it doesn’t get any shorter or more frenetic than at the Holt Tide Ride. Now in its fourth year, this year’s crash-and-burn event takes place at Hayling Island on 16th and 17th October 2004, and is open to sailors from five high performance classes – the B14, International 14, RS700, RS800 – and for the first time the ‘pocket rocket’ skiff, the 29er.

The sailing format is nothing like the competitors will experience at any other time in the year. Held at the mouth of Chichester Harbour on the strongest spring tides, the current is capable of sluicing past Hayling Island Sailing Club at anything up to 6 knots.

Sailing an unstable skiff-style dinghy is tough at the best of times, but on this unstoppable conveyor belt of water it becomes all the more challenging. There is the added pressure of knowing that a crowd is baying for your blood from the balcony of Hayling Island Sailing Club. Every capsize or collision is greeted with cheers and jeers from the gathered throng. What’s more, with only two and a half hours of sailing time either side of high water, the first start takes place at the unseasonably and unreasonably early time of 1000hrs on Saturday morning.

This is the second year that leading performance hardware manufacturer Holt has been the title sponsor. Director Ben Dunton, himself a 14 sailor, says this unique event tests the very limits of man and machine. “The Holt Tide Ride throws some of the UK’s best sailors into an unfamiliar environment that is capable of making fools even of Olympic Champions. Your boat preparation has to be spot on, and you have to be at the top of your game to win here.

“But the great thing with the sudden death final is that with a little bit of luck anyone can win here. It’s an adrenalin ride for the competitors and great sport for the spectators. Every competitor receives a Holt Tide Ride rash vest for the weekend, but it’s interesting to note how many sailors continue to wear their vests long after the Tide Ride, almost as a badge of honour.”

Barrie Edgington, only recently back from the Olympics in his coaching and TV commentary role, proved he still has some skill on the tiller and trapeze when he won last year’s event in the RS800. “Some people said it was a fluke, but it’s all about peaking at the right time. You’ve only got to win one race to win the Tide Ride, that’s why people love it. It’s do or die.”

Breaking away from the traditional open meeting race series, the action kicks off on Saturday morning with qualifying races in a round robin format, over short courses with gates to keep the action compact and maintain maximum boat contact. Each round is a new start, so crews can recover from a poor race to win the title as no points are carried forward. On Sunday elimination groups are decided and the start of the sudden death stage begins.

The Saturday night of the Tide Ride has become equally famous, with sailors partying to celebrate (or to forget) their exploits on the first day. A live band should help to dull the pain from the rigours of racing.

The event is being held under the burgee of Hayling Island Sailing Club. Entry is £30.00 per boat and is limited to 40 boats per class. With the enormous amount of interest in the Tide Ride (not to mention the generous supply of prizes), competitors should register and pay their subscription straight away for a chance to take part in this exciting event. Register on-line via Holt’s web site http://www.holtallen.com. There is a registration cut-off date of 2nd October 2004.