Feedback - 19 June 2001

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From Robin
Can these records be lowered again this summer? An unofficial entry in the RTI Race, William Sunnocks and Mark Self in their Tornado Sport, finished just two minutes behind Dexia Eure et Loire, demonstrating the possibility that this new version of the Olympic Cat could easily break even the new record. However, I believe this is unlikely to happen in the forthcoming RTI Multihull Race on the weekend of the 7/8 July. The Cats will be going clockwise, which although may give a tidal advantage,I personally believe is the wrong way to maximise speed in normal prevailing wind conditions for this type of craft. Also, and most importantly, they will not be timed through the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, so should one of them break the record, it would not be ratified as an official record.

Editor's note: I have always regarded 'unofficial' entries as rather poor etiquette. There is a good reason for not inviting boats such as the Tornado sport along for the HOYA Round the Island Race. That said, there is no doubt that such boats could break the record on the right day. Perhaps it's time for Robin to ring up the Royal Yacht Squadron and make the necessary arrangement?

From Tom Hayhoe
Is this one of the great Round the Island races? No - definitely not. It was a boring procession for most of the way round. Grey, occasionally raining, nothing for the guys on the windward rail to do, and few opportunities for tactical plays, it was just as well we could get it over quickly! It was a fast race for everyone - any crew that failed to knock an hour off their previous best should hang up their kit and take up golf or tiddleywinks.

From Jason Merron
Tell us how you got on with Mike`s advice? Great articles. We used Mike's tips to find two overtaking lanes, of which there weren't many in a race with so little beating... First off, we got to the Needles in a big swell to find everyone following the big boats around the wreck. With Mike's notes in one hand and Peter Bruce's aerial shot in the other, we found the gap easily in spite of our hangovers and made 300 yards. The other good tip was to remind us of the importance of catching the first quarter wave of a big boat for a proper tow. All we had to do was wait for Jacobite to come past on the long reach to St Catherine's and clip on for an easy ride (thanks Jacobite). The rest, as they say, is history.

More on the Round The Island Race and the Volvo Ocean Race on page two.