The Solent Super Series™ is getting a bit of a reputation – 3rd Round and 3rd weekend of sub 6kt winds, fortunately a light wind ‘nowcast’ doesn’t deter either the race committee or the competitors from taking on the challenge that light air sailing brings.
Race 1 of the Round got underway on Saturday after a short delay, the start line set between a robotic MarkSetBot and fixed Solent mark 3S TeamO sending the fleet racing downwind to the East, before turning back against the tide and beating westward. The first leg provided some great racing all be it in slow motion and included the traditional Solent hazard of a ship passing through the fleet. After an hour and a half, with only the first mark rounded, and the flood tide showing no signs of easing (just yet) the decision was made to abandon racing and move the fleet West in search of breeze, allowing the flood to ease and the ebb tide to get underway.
The Fleet repositioned to Hampstead Ledge for a 5nm triangle course to be raced, finishing just off Yarmouth Harbour, once again a line set up with the robotic MarkSetBot and a fixed Solent Mark – the Bot impressively holding station in the strong ebb tide of around 2.5 knots. Now experienced in starting races in 5 kts of wind, the fleet got underway and were rewarded with some great racing before Kestrel emerged as the winner, finishing as dusk started to fall, while the back markers finished under nav lights in the dark at 17:08, that’s winter racing for you!
With all boats safely into Yarmouth Harbour, competitors enjoyed welcome drinks supported by Unity Sailing (thanks guys), hosted at The George Hotel with teams discussing the day’s action and studying their drifting and racing tracks on the bar’s TV screen. The GeoRacing mobile phone tracking the Series is using allows for a review of each key point, some of which were enthusiastically reviewed especially after a few drinks.
In keeping with the Super Series tradition, the welcome drinks gave way to Saturday night’s social & and a short prize giving for the previous round. This round’s all-competitors dinner was hosted at Salty’s Pizzeria a firm Yarmouth favourite, where Kestrel was awarded the Round 2 prize. Those with some energy left in the tank, were able to enjoy some drinks and dancing on tables before retiring to their boats and some well-earned sleep.
Even the blurriest eyed on Sunday morning could see that reality was close to forecast and after rolling up sleeping bags, and grabbing some breakfast, the fleet followed the race team onboard the Cowes United committee boat out for another race start in under 6kts of wind start. Race Officer Rich Palmer electing for a downwind start getting the fleet away from the Island shore saw a split in the fleet, with three boats opting to sail the long leg on port first making good gains and rounded the mark off Lymington 11 minutes ahead of the boats that had opted for the other side of the leg. The wind held direction for a beat back across the tide to Yarmouth, where the fun really started, a long downwind zig zag course taking the teams back to the central Solent. The 11-minute deficit fleet included the Sun Fast 3300 Kestrel, by now had drawn level with the fleet again, after 90 minutes of racing, only to be swept the wrong side of a mark and having to beat back to get round.
The Sun Fast 3200 Full Circle found their own personal line of breeze and sailed around the other boats to take the lead on the water and build a 10 minute lead only to be overhauled by Lord of the Dance having a better mark rounding and holding their asymmetric spinnaker for the tight leg, however, in the final hour of racing the last 4 legs provided opportunity, with Kestrel making an unbelievable recovery. Not quite being able to catch up Lord of the Dance on the water who crossed the finish line for a well-earned line honours followed 50 seconds later by Kestrel who were audibly jubilant as they crossed the line making up their second deficit of the day to win the race on IRC handicap by just 11 seconds.
The GeoRacing tracking captured, well, one of the wackiest races of the season, and can be replayed HERE
Kestrel posted two race wins, handing them the Round (imitating their Round 2 win) Lord of the Dance second and JPK1030 Insert Coin completing the Round 3 – Yarmouth podium. 3 Rounds are now complete, it’s down to fourth and final round ( Hamble ) to decide who will win the 2024 Solent Super Series.
