Round the Island - Walking the Course part 4

Mike Broughton talks us through the final stage from Bembridge back to Cowes

Ryde Bank Gotcha! - Note from the photograph the sneaky little bay on the north side of the Ryde Sands, just waiting to ensnare the unwary. Tacking into the bay would be fine, until you tried to escape. I understand a number of very experienced sailors went aground on Ryde Bank last year, so beware.

USS Enterprise on the starboard bow! - This year we have the impressive sight of the huge USS Enterprise (US Aircraft Carrier) anchored three miles due east of Spit Sand Fort, which should be staying until the day after the race. Large ships at anchor in the eastern Solent can create big wind shadows, though the carrier should be well clear to the north.

At Cowes Week last year, a large container ship anchored near Browndown buoy, created an additional large wind shadow for tacticians to cope with. Some boats lost a lot of time sailing to the leeward side. If in doubt, go to windward of an anchored ship if you can.

Local winds - In a southeasterly wind, right hand shifts, remaining local to the Ryde area, can be experienced on the south side of the eastern Solent. Winds from the same direction create a stronger wind band on the northern side, due to the coastal convergence as the wind sweeps towards Lee on Solent.

Likewise, coastal convergence gives stronger winds on the Ryde side of the eastern Solent in a north west wind. While, in a southwesterly, the breeze is less, close into the Island from Ryde to Osborne Bay. The hills inland reduce the wind, as well as the trees along the coast, that do a great job at creating friction to slow the breeze.

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