Change of plan

French blockage forces change of course for Royal Southampton

The May Bank Holiday is traditionally the occasion of the RSYC Double Handed Race from the Solent to Cherbourg, but 48 hours before it was due to start came the news that French fishermen had blockaded Cherbourg, along with most other northern French ports.

Frantic calls to France ensued over the Thursday to try and establish what the situation was and how long would it last. If our racers went across to Cherbourg, could they get in, or perhaps even more critically, could they get out again? With only Caen still operating as a ferry port over the weekend, there was a distinct possibility that not only could the boats not leave France, but nor the crews. Other destinations were rapidly assessed by the Race Committee, but at short notice on a Bank Holiday weekend, none seemed realistically feasible.

Given the unattractive weather forecast for the weekend, the only options were to can the race completely, or devise a revised course to mid-Channel and back. This last option was decided upon on Friday morning and the competitors advised that they would now round the RORC Ocean Safety buoy, some 25 miles SE of Bembridge and just north of the shipping lanes, and return to the Solent, making an overall distance of about 70 miles.

On the Friday evening a somewhat depleted fleet of 32 boats were dispatched on a good easterly beat towards the Forts, but at Ryde Middle the wind faded to 4/5 knots. Kirsteen Donaldson, sailing with Flic Gabbay on the X-332 Pyxis felt that they should change headsails, but believing that the forecast was for stiffer wind outside the Solent, decided against it. Their prognosis proved correct, as once through the Forts, the wind backed and built to 14 knots, enabling most, if not all boats to lay Ocean Safety on one tack.

Rounding the mark proved an exhilarating experience for many, as a clutch of boats reached it at about same time around midnight and with the wind backing again, the lights of the boats fetching for the mark, turning and returning towards those approaching made life interesting. The wind had built to 20 knots and the wind over tide contributed to quite a big sea. Mike Moxley and Huw Phillips on the HOD 35 Malice hoisted their symmetric spinnaker, but within minutes realised that they had made the wrong call. In the wind conditions and lumpy sea they spent the next 30 minutes getting it down and sorting the mess. “I reckon that cost us the race” Mike said ruefully.

In strange conditions, with the wind never abaft the beam going out or coming back, it made for a fast race - and an early call for the Race Officers at the finish.

Were the competitors happy that they got some kind of race after all? At the prize giving on Saturday all seemed unanimous that the Club had made the right call and much enjoyed the revised race. Honorary Members, Spaniard Ander Echabe, sailing a Figaro Solo Fluffy and Katie Miller, racing her new Figaro II Hot Socks, were naturally disappointed that we could not go to Cherbourg. As Katie said in the clubhouse: “a 25 knot northeasterly would have been perfect for the Figaro’s!” But she was full of praise for the decision to run another race. “Everyone was aware of the industrial action in France and the Club impressed a lot of people by arranging another race in short order, re-writing all the SI’s and Amendments and letting everyone know on Friday morning what was happening. It was really well organised and well done to the Royal Southampton.”

Results (Corrected time)

Class 1:
1 Laurence & Oscar Mead – Juneau (J105) - 8hrs 26. 23
2 Chris Rustom & Mike Saqui – Ding Dong (Stewart 37) - 8hrs 47.19
3 Peter & Duncan Tanner – Oojah (J110) - 8hrs 49.15

Class 2:
1 Andy & Peter Pickett – Moondog (Laser 28) - 8hrs 56.48
2 Rupert & Kathy Smalley – The Flying Fish (Laser 28) - 9hrs 00.29
3 Marco Naninna & Philippe Bourgault – British Beagle (Sigma 36) - 9hrs 04.20

Class 3:
1 Alan Baker & Nigel Holt – Alma (Westerly GK33) - 9hrs 31.20
2 Peter & William Whatley – Ear to Eternity (Sun Odyssey 45) - 9hrs 37.11
3 Katie Miller & another – Hot Socks (Figaro II) - 9hrs 49.08

Class 4:
1 Bob & Jan Trimble – Max (Maxi 1050) - 9hrs 32.12
2 Brian Cooper & Steve Horne - Little Spirit (Beneteau First 375) - 9hrs 43.20
3 Jim & David Stott – Sohar (Bavaria 34) - 9hrs 47.20