Smooth start

22 doublehanded yachts are racing to northern Spain in the Royal Southampton YC's Biscay Challenge

Competitors in the Royal Southampton YC's 540-mile Biscay Challenge yacht race from the Solent to northern Spain are now well on their way.

All 22 yachts that made the start line in the Solent on Saturday got away to a smooth start, and though there may have been a lack of strong breeze at the outset, the tide was running with them to get them through the Needles and into Christchurch Bay and on to the open sea of the English Channel.

The race started mid-Solent, just off the Royal Thames buoy on the mainland side of the Solent and despite other races taking place in the Solent on a glorious sunny summer afternoon, the Biscay crews got away to an uninterupted start.

In the English Channel. they are making for the northwest corner of France, off Ushant and once clear of that, turn south and with the prospect of picking up stronger breezes and good sailing conditions through the Bay of Biscay although there is always the threat of fickle and unpredictable weather conditions through the Bay.

First boats are expected at the finish line just outside Hondarribia, in the heart of Basque country and on the border of Spain with France, on Wednesday or Thursday and because weather forecasters predicted only light winds for much of the way, an initial time limit on the race has been withdrawn.

The competitors - two to a boat - are competing in three classses and crossed the start line in separate classes.

The race is staged every two years and is organised by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, and builds on the Club's expertise in developing two-handed yacht racing as it has become known, as well as past experience in organising the race to northern Spain every other year.

Hon Race Director, Roger Townsend, a former Commodore of the Royal Southampton, said: “It will certainly be a tactical race."

The Club’s current two-handed series, sponsored by the Australian wine producer McGuigan Wines has become recognised as the UK’s premier series for this style of yacht racing and provides eight races throughout the spring, summer and autumn with four inshore and four offshore.

The Biscay Challenge is run independently of the series, yet calls on the same sailing skills in more exacting conditions. There are entries from Britain, Belgium, Ireland and Spain.