Fastnet Race - the first few hours

Mike Broughton's essential reading for anyone taking part in RORC's classic offshore race

Winds Bends and shadows - The river valleys in the western part of the Isle of Wight have a marked effect on the wind in the western Solent. With a wind left of 250 degrees, the valleys such as the Newton River, create relatively large 'lefthanders' over a local area, as the wind funnels out of the estuary and then fans out, creating significant gains on port tack. In westerly winds, there is a wind bend around Egypt Point as well as an area of lighter winds close into Gurnard Bay, caused by the wind detaching from the surface to get over the high ground.

Alum and Totland Bays - don't go there! - View the great scenery from afar! There is less tide to help you here and most significantly a lot less wind caused by the high cliffs and hills (140m high) close on the shoreline, that create huge wind shadows.

Prepare to Get Wet - Get your crew ready for the passage past the Shingles early, as the wind often increases enough here to warrant a sail change (due to the stronger tide and acceleration effect with the high ground behind the Needles). The waves get bigger here and the spray often starts coming on board here with the wind against tide. If you need to do a sail change here, it can take longer than expected, due to the crew having to don lifejackets as they put on their foul weather gear. Any delays here can mean big losses relative to your opponent and constrain your tactical options, at an important time. Sometimes it can pay to merely de-power the sails for the transit through the stronger tides, to save having to change sails again once clear of the Needles Channel.

Needles Fairway to starboard - is a new mark of the course, for those not used to having to round this buoy, be careful not to overlay the mark as you work your way down the best area of tide along the edge of the Shingles Bank. There are big gains to be made along the edge of the Shingles Bank, as the tide is much stronger, than only 100 metres further east. The Shingles shelve quite quickly, so be careful not to get caught out here running aground, particularly just prior to the Shingles Elbow.

Inshore or Offshore from Needles Fairway? - To my mind, the decision should not be made yet, unless you have strong evidence of stronger winds well south in the Channel (associated with a NE gradient wind, say from a high pressure system to the north). The key issue is - can I make use of the 'tidal slingshot' off Anvil Point and St Alban’s Race, before the tidal stream changes there. Then make your decision.

Remember that the next effective mark of the course is Start Point not Portland Bill (which is north of track). Both of these headlands have important tidal races and large tactical gains can be made at each headland in the Channel, due to wind acceleration and wind bending, with the possible addition of extra wind generated by a favourable tide. Conversely the winds can be less in the vicinity of the headlands due to a foul tides and the existence of wind shadows, downwind of high cliffs. Less wind can also be found in front of cliffs as the wind 'detaches' to flow over the top of the high ground.

The difference of just two knots of wind between two closely matched boats can make a huge difference to boat speed, particularly before boats are fully powered up (below 12 knots of wind). Likewise the navigator/tactician that can make the best use of a wind bend, can make a considerable gain on his opponents.