RORC Cervantes race - Saturday 3^rd May - Cowes to Le Havre

 

With the race starting on Saturday morning, we decided to meet in Haslar on Friday night to ensure that there were no traffic issues.  With light airs forecast, we made sure that we only took necessary equipment, and therefore removed items such as the 14 sets of oilskins and additional cooking utensils off of the boat (trust me, they were heavy!)  Everyone picked up their new kit bags - in addition to the crew kit, we have matching crew bags, then headed out for dinner  in the newly refurbished Lightship.  We were all rather hungry at this point, so once supper had been scoffed, we headed back to the boat for a reasonably early night.

An 0820 start saw us head out for the start line at 0600 after an 0500 wake up call - way too early for a Bank holiday Saturday morning really!  There was a quick panic when there was a thought that we didn’t have any gas on board, but then soon realised that all was ok.    There was a small amount of breeze as we headed over to the start line which was the Royal Yacht Squadron line. 

With classes 2-5 starting before us, we scanned the line for which yachts were faring the best, and we subsequently decided that the far end of the line was preferable for us.  As we saw the other boats milling around and waiting for their guns, we realised that we were probably the heaviest and one of the oldest boats on the start - the majority of the yachts being in the 30-40 foot range and weighing in at about 5-6 tons, which is vastly different to our 53 foot and 22 tons.  Even with our new rating, removed weight and shiny scrubbed hull, we knew that if these winds stayed the way that they were forecast, this was not going to be our race:  but we were here to sail well, sail together and get the experience.

So, at 0820, we started with a port tack across to the Island.  We had 2 hours of tide to make Hurst and the Shingles - if we didn’t make this then there was a chance that we wouldn’t make Le Havre at all, therefore we sailed with all of our concentration and skill - Nikki’s trimming was constant and the communication at the back of the boat was second to none:  Marcus trimming the main and Simon on the helm, the rest of the crew were on the rail, keeping each other entertained with various stories and anecdotes whilst watching for wind shifts.   The tacks along the shoreline were consistently good, and, at my first hour’s log reading, noticed that the boat track showed amazing ninety degree straight lines (although don’t tell Mr Vayro, because we don’t need his head swelling!).

 

We looked at the navigation and tactics before we left, and decided that with the forecast the way it was (fairly light), we would take the rhumb line course - the  tides likely to be equaling themselves out, and therefore if the wind died completely we would still be in roughly the right place – not far from the harbour entrance.

 

We arrived at Hurst at 1015 but the wind died and we virtually stopped in the water while some of the other smaller lighter boats still had boat speed and sailed past us.  This was very irritating.  We did, however, make it to the needles, and, after leaving the Needles Lightbouy, started our journey off towards Le Havre.  The sun was now out, and like a lot of the other yachts in the fleet (all 106 of us), we hoisted our spinnaker.  A good hoist and we were on our way.

 

But only 20 minutes later, we dropped the kite – she was getting heavy and we were unable to hold our course, so we sailed on white sails alone.    By 1245, the rest of the fleet seemed to be heading much further to the east than us, but were also further ahead.  We decided to hold onto our original tactics.  Lunch, kindly made by Marcus, was greatly received.  At 1320, we hoisted the kite again as we were losing speed without it  - a slight change of course by 15 degrees culminated in an additional 3 knots.  Now SOG is 8.5 knots, which is more like it!

 

However, not 30 minutes later, there was a wind shift, so we dropped again.  This time, realising that this was the groove we were likely to be in for a few hours, we hoisted the storm sail up on the inner forestay as a staysail.  It gave us the additional drive off the head sail that we needed and stabalised the yacht.  We were trucking along nicely at about 9 knots:  all those practice hoists on our previous get together were well worth it!  The foredeck crew did a magnificent job and were (almost) faultless!

 

By 1400, we could see Outrageous, a Swan 47 about 1NM to our port side, which is where she stayed for a while.  By 1500, we had 46NM to the next waypoint, and 69 NM to the finish and an easterly tide for the next 3 hours.  Then for a lovely afternoon tea break, although it really should have been champagne sailing as the sun was shining but still a slight spring nip to the air. 

At 1600 we hoisted the kite again, and with some more excellent trimming by our downwind trimmer Nicole, and a snack of carrots (to help us see in the dark), our average boat speed was about 8 knots.

At 1800, we were still sailing well, with the crew getting kitted up for the night – it could get a little chilly!  There were boats all around us and Tom had taken over the helm – with our skipper taking a well deserved break having been behind the wheel with Dr.P for best part of 12 hours!  A couple of hours later, and a sausage hotpot tucked away by all, we were now averaging about 7 knots towards our way point.

By 2045, the tricolour on, and the crew kitted up, some decided on taking a break from the deck, while some of us decided to stay up for the duration – I was particularly keen to see how my navigation and tactics would work out!  Darkness fell about 2100, and the temperature dropped a little – it was then easier to see all of the other yachts around us by their navigation lights.  Our waypoint, A5 was passed at 2215.  As 2300 approached, the wind shifted a little so we dropped the kite – only for another shift about 10 minutes later so another hoist!

 

In between the hoists, the yacht closest to us kept their kite up and subsequently overtook us – damn!  However, we managed to claw our way back up to them and then, just as we were level, they dropped theirs, enabling us to coast past.  There’s now 9NM to the finish line.

The finish was very exciting indeed.  A combination of only having old paper charts on board, which showed the main channel into Le Havre much further to the south than the electronic charts, and also showing much fewer bouys – and therefore lights.  There was much to-ing and fro-ing between the helm and the chart table, calling courses and distances constantly.  There were yachts coming in from all angles, and it took all of our wits and concentration to keep going:  many of us on deck had now been racing for 18 hours without a break.

Then there was a call from our mainsheet trimmer, Steve, and bowman AJ who had seen the yellow flashing light of the committee boat – I don’t think I’ve ever breathed a bigger sigh of relief than that moment:  shaking with adrenaline, I decided that now was the time to get back on deck and take it all in.  It was a very close finish, but we managed to finish just ahead of the Swan 47!  Excellent work crew!

 

Although it was a Bank Holiday weekend and now the early hours of Sunday morning, the crew decided to turn for home.  Nicole and Steve took the helm for the next 4 hours, then, with a couple of wind shifts, it was beginning to get light – but we had, unfortunately seen the best of the weather – rain was now on the cards, and not such a pleasant delivery home.

We arrived back into Haslar at about 1700 on Sunday afternoon.  An excellent race and brilliant crew work.  Here’s looking forward to the next race – to Eddystone lighthouse, just outside of Plymouth.

 

Liz Lotz

LlYC Vice Commodore

Fastnet Navigator and Tactician!

 

Results:  http://www.rorc.org/raceresults/2009/cervantestrophyrace/ms0101.html

 

This years Fastnet crew are proudly sponsored by Coors, Cathedral, Atrium, Bank of Ireland, Towers Perrin and Locke Lord Bissell

 

See the gallery for photos!