In partnership with Winning Tides, we ran a coaching session focusing on all elements of exiting the Solent to the West. This forms a key part of RORC, JOG, and the Round the Island Races. We selected a weekend that had similar tidal characteristics to this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, and the session was run in two parts. Saturday night briefing and dinner followed by an on-the-water session with practice starts on the Royal Yacht Squadron line on the Sunday
Teams gathered at the Royal Ocean Race in Cowes for drinks with many familiar faces in attendance to join a briefing with Graham Sunderland (the man behind Winning Tides). Sunderland shared his knowledge and explained how he measures tidal flows around the World, having worked with the Olympic Sailing Team for multiple Olympic Cycles. Many surveys of the Solent over the years have culminated in the Winning Tides Solent Bible…
By far the largest change to the Solent’s tidal affects has been the addition of the Cowes Harbour breakwater built in 2014 which has significantly changed the tidal flows around Cowes which dramatically effects the Royal Yacht Squadron Line – Graham has re-surveyed the area and has developed a ‘Cowes Super Zoom’ Winnning Tides book, being launched in 2025.
Graham covered all aspects of starting on the Royal Yacht Squadron line from timings, approaches, local meteorological nuances, as well as practical tips for the teams.
Sunday morning began with a quick-fire briefing on shore at the Squadron flag staff, observing the line, lights and conditions of the day. With the briefing done it was time to put all the theory into practice and teams headed to their boats and out onto the Solent in a chilling 16kts from the NW.
Three practice starts got underway consecutively under the watchful eyes of Coach and FourthCape Race Control
The fourth and final start was a small race to the West with the tide under boats.
We will be running another Solent Exit – coaching session in 2026 – if you missed out on this years session drop us an email and we will make sure you are emailed details about the 2026 session.
