As most members may know, we're planning to enter a Volvo 60 for this year's Fastnet. And having sunk one boat we chartered a replacement, Zest, which was however lacking both a stern and a mast following a channel collision two years ago.
Meanwhile we still haven't managed to sell Arbitrator, and so on learning last week that Zest was still mast-less (but at least by now back in the water), we switched our entry for the Morgan Cup from Class Super Zero to Class 3. We then asked who from our original crew of 17 would like to swap the prospect of being back in the bar on Saturday night for a Sigma 38 and a rather slower race.
We weren’t exactly bowled over in the stampede for places and, combined with some bad traffic on Friday evening, only 6 of us were on board as we motored across to Cowes for the start. Included in these were two of our rowing recruits to Zest - Volvo 60s need tall strong crew for their first ever RORC (or overnight) race.
Copied below is the official race report our skipper Peter wrote for the RORC. Suffice to say we were back in the bar in Cowes on Saturday evening and Arbitrator must be wondering what else she can do to stop us trying to sell her. We’re off to RORC tonight to pick up our medallions, with the rowers no doubt thinking this sailing lark is pretty easy. They can expect to see a very different side of offshore racing in the Fastnet on a Volvo 60 assuming of course Zest has a mast by then….
Our newly appointed navigator had produced a laminated card for each of the five courses promised in the programme. Much to the credit of the Race Committee and to the amusement our crew, an entirely different course was chosen which promised a good, fair offshore racing course.
The Class 3 start at 18.30 saw a group of Sigma 38s including us at the Island end of the line and the Swan 47 Sleeper more to the middle sailing serenely away from everybody. By the forts Sleeper had taken a noticeable lead as we sailed off towards Ocean Safety buoy. The three leading Sigmas; us, Supernatural and Festina Lente seemed to approach Ocean Safety line abreast. Both Supernatural and Festina Lente then demonstrated the advantage of regular racing and practise with quick and efficient spinnaker hoists and gybes, while we on Arbitrator were grateful it was dark so the others couldn't see quite what we were doing.
The dead run down to the RORC buoy presented a choice of left or right. With a mixed selection of forecasts we decided to follow the old fashioned system of staying on the making gybe which sent us right. We gybed on our watch change which coincided with a very helpful wind shift allowing us to lay the mark. As the sun came up we started the normal game of trying to identify boats to see how we were doing and at this stage it all looked quite promising.
We rounded RORC at 1105 in company with several Class 1 boats. Having approached with a favourable tide, on rounding our progress slowed dramatically. We didn't see any other Sigmas until Persephone rounded about 20 minutes after us but we saw no sign of Sleeper who we supposed were now some way ahead. After what seemed an age, the tide eventually turned and we were able to make more speed back towards the Nab. Having gone too far on starboard we had to tack to pass St. Catherine's where we found Persephone ahead and to windward of us. At Dunnose we were able to hoist spinnakers again and we slowly got past Persephone and identified Supernatural further back up to windward.
Coming up to the Nab, we were a bit upset to see ahead of us a small boat showing a Class 3 flag sailing along nicely with a yellow spinnaker. It turned out to be Arobase 3, a First 31.7 and we would obviously owe them time. Having gybed round the Nab just behind Arobase we slowly overtook them and then saw the majestic sight of Venom coming up astern. We were passed by them and Bear of Britain just before the finish and we crossed the line at 1625, with Persephone about four and a half minutes later.
Sleeper had finished some time earlier and had clearly been very well sailed; it would have been nice to have seen them. We enjoyed the novel experience for a small boat of being amongst the first few finishers and would like to thank the RORC for setting a course that suited the conditions so well.
Copyright © London Corinthian Sailing Club, 15 June 2005