2007 Race Reports

Race 13 - The Blenheim Group Channel Race

Cowes - St Peter Port

Report from Just So, Class 3

The wind was very light and variable. Several times we sailed into a hole and took a while to get going again.We started with a very pleasant spinnaker reach down the Solent but by the time we got to Yarmouth the wind had changed and we were beating. The wind dropped after the Bridge buoy and we continued slowly westwards. Patchy conditions continued but we did have a very favourable wind shift on close approach to Les Casquets which helped us round them, but then the wind died again....

This was our first offshore race in our boat and Mary's and my first JOG race in 18 years but the JOG organisation and reception was as friendly and helpful as we remembered it. Thank you guys, we'll do more.

Report from Arcsine, Class 3

The forecast for this JOG race could not have been further from the previous week's Fastnet race. There was also certainly a strong chance that we might see the spinnakers flying, instead of filling up the saloon like many previous JOG races this season.

Arcsine had recovered from her wounds of the Fastnet in double quick time with a repaired mainsail, new main halyard and new tuff-luff. Unfortunately the same could not be said for half of Arcsine's Fastnet crew who were still licking their wounds (or more likely recovering from Phil's cold). But the stalwarts of Kathy Claydon (skipper), Phil Kirk (crew boss/navigator) and Rocco (mast man and chief sleeper) were joined by Massimo (Rocco's friend and fellow Italian), Dave, ex Competent Crew, Hillary, a tall ship mate from Scotland and Sarah, (Phil's girl friend, accomplished dinghy sailor and good cook). With this international multi skilled crew anything was possible.

We sailed over to Cowes in time to practise with the spinnaker. Having decided our starting strategy we dodged the additional inflatable marks and started well with the kite drawing. We tried to keep to windward of the fleet and nearer the island shore and this tactic appeared to be paying. The breeze was stronger than forecast so we were hoping that we were in for a nice reach across the channel. Unfortunately this did not last and by Hurst castle the fleet were already experiencing light and shifty upwind conditions, but Arcsine was happy to pass a few of the 'faster but heavier' in Class 3!

After Bridge the fleet appeared to split with some following the Royal Southampton double handed fleet towards Brixham while others carried on heading South, towards Cherbourg we decided to pace the Starboard tackers and encouraged Sarah to get dinner on. Realising that this was not going to be the fastest race to St. Peter Port we opted to start a watch system early. Rocco was put on the helm to stop him from grabbing an extra 40 winks and we sailed every puff and zephyr as if it were our last.

Through the first watch we made steady progress briefly touching 6 knots. By the 3 am watch change this had become a distant memory. Phil and his watch took over and the wind steadily dropped until the log read 0.00, coaxing never loosing the bow wave, we sailed 6 miles in 3 hours, It appeared silly to ask Sea Pro for an ETA in St Peter Port as surely the forecast NW'ly would fill in soon!

Kathy's watch started to surface, removing earplugs, except for Rocco, the reason for such measures. We wondered if Rocco's Snoring caused the hull to vibrate, increasing boat speed. Sarah was first up and took the helm, finding out how Arcsine responded to small movements of the wheel. She managed to keep Arcsine trickling along. As Kathy took charge the wind began to fill in once again although heading us.

Phil's watch team then took over once again in time for sausage sandwiches. Kathy's team then took some rest leaving the boat in their capable hands, or was it! It became apparent that perhaps Phil's watch were jinxed as the wind slowly dropped again throughout their 3 hours. To boost morale Hilary took on galley duties whilst the Casquets came into view. At about 3pm another yacht was sighted and identified as the J109 'Just So'. For a while the wind veered and lifted us. Getting past the Casquets would be a close run thing. The tide was due to turn and in the light winds we risked being swept back towards Cherbourg. As we neared the lighthouse the wind headed again and we tacked crossing 'Just So'. We continued West to give ourselves sea room and were reluctant to tack back to soon. 'Just So' continued sailing South and would be close to the rocks if nothing changed. We had a race! Shortly after we put our tack in to head South a light breeze filled in from the North West (finally as forecast!) and Just So was able to reach past the rocks! Then as their Asymmtric flew they became smaller.

With the tide now strong against us and Arsine only doing 3 or 4 knots the Casquets remained in view for a long time! We were only 16 miles away from the finish but decided we would have to use our second evening meal to keep as going as our ETA was now 10 o'clock but which day was still in doubt! Peter Chartres from JOG rang to find out where we all were! Probably trying to decide when to have dinner himself. We did not know whether the faster boats were nearer the finish or whether they were stuck in less wind than us.

So the evening turned into night it was clear that the time at sea was taking its toll on the less experienced crew as Sarah decided the hand bearing compass really looked like a mini spaceship!

The wind did not stay North Westerly for long and the spinnaker was dropped and raised several times before reaching Guernsey. By this time the tide was turning in our favour and as the wind dropped for the umpteenth time it looked like 'Just So' were going to be swept West and miss the Little Russell altogether. After debating using the inner passage through the rocks, down the Little Russell to the finish for much of the race Phil was quite relieved that with the strong favourable tide it would pay to stay in the main channel. Even this was quite difficult in the dark with little steerage way. We radioed JOG 2 to say that we were drifting to the finish as we past the Roustel mark.

Finally the castle and finish line came into sight. We dropped the spinnaker for the last time and struggled to drift inshore to finish within the 3 cables. 'Just So' had finished ahead and welcomed us in, well done to them.

The BlenheimGroup, JOG and the States of Guernsey rewarded those who had finished (or retired to Guernsey) with a fabulous reception and prize giving. We were pleased with our result and how the team had worked together to achieve it. Thanks go to Peter, Sandy, Tony and Margaret it is always encouraging to know however long it takes us to inch across the Channel we will be greeted by such an encouraging team ashore.

Report from Zest, Class 4

Unusually I arrived at the boat early. Early enough to go for a swim and scrub the bottom. (I am reliably informed this is one of the perks of owning a boat.) However, being August, the engine had decided to go on its annual holiday, and showed no interest at all in starting. Not so good with a maximum of five knots on the forecast. Poking about with the starter motor gave no improvement, and a call was made to Sea Start, who turned up within thirty minutes. Of course by this time, further tinkering had taken place, and the engine had deigned to start (once). Sea Start spent the next hour or so dismantling the starter, and eventually starting became reasonably reliable, so we set off for Cowes (pausing only to collect the rest of the crew) arriving with about ten minutes to spare.

The class four start was cautious. Very cautious. No chance of anyone being over the line in this one. We stayed a good deal further north than most of the fleet, planning on the forecast NW wind setting in (which of course it didn't). Off Newtown, things did not look too good. The nice man from Sea Start even rang up to enquire if the motor was still ok. We pointed out that motoring seems to be frowned on while actually racing, and enquired if he had a better silencer available in his goody bag. No luck this time, with delivery not being possible before midday on Saturday. However, going through Hirst, the fleet seemed to be quite tightly bunched, and spirits revived somewhat.

Past Bridge, we stayed on Starboard, keeping a little high of the rhumb line until the tide turned, when a brief period of short tacking took place as order was succeeded by counterorder implementing the latest 'good idea', until everyone got fed up with it. Decent progress resumed after the expected six hours, which got us to within a few miles of the Casquets in a light westerly, when the tide turned again at about 1500. A prolonged study of the famous rock followed, and by 1800 even the worst jokes were being recycled. Things were looking grim. Rummaging around in the weather charts, we found one which predicted a short spell of NW wind, which duly appeared, and livened things up with a change to the light spinnaker. Progress remained comparable with continental drift, however, until a little after nightfall, the wind went back SW and picked up to at least seven knots, resulting in lunatic predictions of a finish before midnight.

Just short of Platte Fougere at about 2330, everything went very quiet again as the wind dropped to zero for the first time in the race. Even the supposedly fair tide seemed to be otherwise engaged, but eventually picked up enough to give us a couple of knots boatspeed, and about four knots over the ground, getting to the finish at about 0200. One of the very few JOG races where no other boats were visible anywhere. All seemed rather gloomy.

On Sunday morning it transpired that the rest of class four had repaired to the bar, giving us a win as the only boat stupid enough to continue racing (curious term for drifting round at a couple of knots).

The new sponsorship with the post race drinkies in Castle Cornet revived distant happy memories of days long ago (when IOR was king) and was much appreciated - ideal preparation for the long beat home.

Report from J-Fever, Class 3

We had three newcomers to the crew for this race, all energetic young men. Given the forecast of light winds I wasn't sure how we were going to keep them occupied - but I need not have worried, anyway experience tells us they are usually happy to sleep.

We finished converting J-Fever from cruising to racing mode before setting off for the start. The start was a good one and the pink kite went up without a hitch in spite of the new crew making it up as they went along. Then the wind went ahead so it came down again. As the race went on we all had lots of practice at these manoeuvres.

The crew were fully occupied ,sailing through a channel wide wind hole, all night trimming to the fickle breaths of air which came from all directions, and by day they had the additional chore of keeping well coated with sunscreen. Nice that summer had at last arrived, we just wished that it included a bit of wind.

Shortly after drifting across the shipping lanes, in daylight thank goodness and with boat speed down to about 1.2 knots a huge seal (Ian who has sailed the globe reckons it was a sea lion) surfaced less than 15 metres away, puffing and snorting and holding an ENORMOUS fish. We are not sure who was more surprised, the seal/sea lion or ourselves. Sadly we were so mesmerised we drifted away before photos could be taken.

The rest of the wildlife list consisted of sea birds: several storm petrels and great skuas being the most noteworthy.

Other highlights of the trip were the wonderful sunsets, the skippers ham and potato bake, his flapjack, the fabulous party at Castle Cornet and the good humour of the finishing team when woken by one of the chattier of our crew members in the early hours of the morning.

Many thanks to you all.

Report from Tearaway Too, Class 3

Probably for the first time this season the weather forecast held no prospect for excessive winds for either the race itself or the return home. However, the wind gods, contrary as ever, decided to forecast light northerly winds. Great! Kite up at start and drop it at Guernsey then! Just a few gybes to keep up the angles. Even better, three J120's so a good opportunity for some close racing.

Do I need to write the rest? A trickle of light breeze which headed as we sailed gently down the Solent, saw a shy reach start with the apparent wind, (as the tide had turned at Gurnard) making a joke of the carefully thought through strategy for the start.

We were left for dead by Magic and J Fever, not to mention almost all of our class, but pulled a bit back as we ghosted out through Hurst narrows and the Needles channel. Avoiding being pushed out over the western end of the Shingles, with a tide sounding like waterfalls and no wind, was a challenge for us and a bit more solid for some! We crabbed sideways down to Bridge on starboard tack with just enough momentum to keep off the bank. We then had a brief flirtation with a shy kite reach but quickly decided that it was not going to work in such light airs as any increase in speed bent the wind too far forward. Never mind! At least the night watches would be stress free!

Settling down to the watch routine, after a really good lamb stew with dumplings, we sailed into one wind hole after another. Just after dawn we found ourselves pretty much becalmed but sweated it out until 7.30 after several freeing and then heading wind shifts and a kite hoist followed by more white sails. The best speed through the night was 6.2 knots for about 10 minutes in 8 knots of breeze but the average after 12 hours sailing was about 2.5 knots of boat speed, most of which was obtained with tide lift out of the Solent. With the wind now averaging about 3 knots and with 47.5 miles to the Casquets and the real prospect of arriving there at the start of the foul tide, we decided to retire. This decision is always disappointing but we wanted to make the most of our time in St Peter Port and so some serious battery charging took place.

We saw numerous others returning to the Solent and just one or two still going. On arrival at Guernsey we caught up with Nauti Pogo and were amazed that they had been able to motor with their 4 horse power outboard and get there before us! Conversation later revealed the secret. They had started motoring at Bridge buoy, about 8 hours before us! We seemed to be the first boat into the outer part of the Harbour but were told by the staff that some more were inside the Marina itself. Shortly after, the new modest country house/stately home arrived in the form of Bouzouki. They, of course, had anchored off for a while to enjoy a swim, showers and probably a state banquet, before joining the poor people of JOG! Obviously not quite so competitive on the water as the old boat then! (We're dead jealous of all that space and comfort).

Nothing much else to report. A good meal ashore, followed by a good night's sleep, followed by the excellent reception at Castle Cornet, followed by an uneventful trip home (mostly motoring) on Sunday night. But a big thank you to Blenheim for sponsoring a really great reception and to Peter, Tony, Margaret and all the start and finishing teams for a great weekend.

Report from Whistler, Class 5

Despite the fact that St Peter Port was supposed to be our "off " weekend, the Skipper didn't appear to confident about this one - but perhaps his unaccustomed gloom was due to the fact that he had to return to working life on the Tuesday following the race; this combined with a light forecast to make him think that a weekend in the garden with pub, restaurants and food near at hand was infinitely preferable to bobbing around the Channel in 30 foot of sweaty plastic with 5 other sweaty people… Ever the professional he put all this to one side and it wasn't until the yellow boat was past Gurnard that he started extolling the virtues of stopping in Yarmouth and exchanging Pot Noodles and builders tea for a nice fish supper and a bottle of perfectly chilled white!!!

Down the Solent we enjoyed a nice battle with Electron and Baby Blue until we were unable to identify anyone (or even Mr Harding's laughter) in the gloom as we passed down towards the Needles. It was a slow and frustrating night and, when dawn broke we could identify both Electron and Imperator nearby. We spent a long day keeping the boat moving and discussing our idealised menu's (we find that virtual food takes up a lot less space than the real thing…)

The gentle zephyr held and Imperator showed an excellent ability to make the most of it pulling away from us as we eked out a lead over Electron. Throughout the day we watched sails come down and boats turn toward either France or the UK, until it was us and the shipping lanes.

With the need to get back to the UK by Sunday night, we had agreed a cut off of being able to leave St Peter Port by 0300 on Sunday to take full advantage of the Alderney Race on the return leg, and the calculations were repeatedly updated as the wind came and went… sometimes it looked very achievable and sometimes the magic navi-guessing box was telling us that we were due to finish at the same time as we are due to start the Poole races!!!

Around 2130 it looked all up and when our Secretary checked in the Skipper advised that we were almost certain to retire in the next half hour… and then a several things happened at once - we were visited by a dozen or so porpoises (or dolphins) who frolicked around the boat for 15 minutes (I'm sure they would have ridden the bow-wave if we had had one), lifting our spirits and just after that the wind came back…

Retirement and Blighty were wiped form our minds and, after a watch change, we tacked down to the Casquets and bore off round them - WE COULD DO IT! Ever an inspirational rock the Skipper forewent his bunk and stayed on deck to help (as he saw it) with the charge to Guernsey.

Now, regular readers will know of the fickle and downright malicious wind gods that torment Whistler and on Saturday/Sunday they had the A-team on! The wind died, backed and disappeared… smiles were wiped from our faces and shoulder dropped… then it was back again - HURRAH!!! We tried the kite, went back to whites… kept nudging along with the Skipper working out how far he could put the deadline back. Another watch change and more wind, we were off!!! It started to veer so we went back to the kite… THIS WAS IT!!!

"Aim at the moon" was the instruction as it was hanging directly over the entrance to the Russell… pressure was building… if it held we could beat the tide… it would be a long slog home but…

And then the most vindictive, spiteful and downright nasty wind god ever played his hand… the wind died away and we stood still before the tide started to work against us. The weather info held no hope of a quick enough change, the adventure was over…

… until we picked up a plastic sheet which wrapped itself round the prop whilst on the way home, requiring the Skipper to get out his Buster Crabb (note the lack of an "e" so it's not the Tarzan actor) outfit and do his impersonation of the infamous "Gosport seal" in the middle of the Channel!!

Report from Alchemist, Class 5

We were extremely disappointed to have had to retire from this year's Guernsey race. We had set a deadline of midnight on Saturday to finish, and when we were still 30 miles from the Casquets at midday, with little wind an even less prospect of any, we had to make a decision. Whilst we debated our options for at least an hour and a half, it has to be said that once it was pointed out that we were some five hours motoring up tide of Cherbourg, the 'lets carry on' voices were somewhat more muted. Eventually the decision was made at 1220, and we started the engine. It was after only a few minutes that we noticed that it was overheating. Frustratingly, we had to turn it off and resume our drifting whilst the skipper (who always gets the best jobs) had a grovel in the engine compartment. After about twenty minutes little progress had been made, so we had the bright idea of using the sink drain as a temporary inlet whilst the main problem was sorted out. We joined the sink drain to the engine with duct tape (wonderful stuff) and off we went at full speed. Could there be an article in PBO in this? Eventually we sorted out the problem and managed to reach Cherbourg in time for a late meal ashore.

On Sunday afternoon the skipper, Martin and William went for a cultural tour of old Cherbourg, whilst Andew went to book a restaurant for the evening. This involved Andrew passing through the main square, in which he heard familiar voices beckoning him into a bar. These voices turned out to belong to the crew of Electron, and you can probably imagine the rest. Later the cultural party bumped into Andrew on the quayside, definitely the better for several refreshments, but with no restaurant booked. Anyway, he told us that the Cherbourg Yacht Club would definitely (probably) be able to accomodate us. This turned out to be the case, so in the end there was a JOG party there, later joined by the crew of Gunshot. We were all sorry to have missed the main event in St. Peter Port though.
Interesting zoological observation: just after we retired we saw a big fish jump out of the water near us. It was about one metre long, sleek and silver, with a longish beak. We all thought it was a marlin. Has anyone else seen anything like it in the Channel?