2008 Race Reports

Race 1 - Cowes to Cherbourg

Report from Longue Pierre, Class 4

Pre-start, we were somewhat shocked to hear the announcement that the cut-off time for the race was at 3am on Sunday morning. In the spirit of JOG, we seriously considered radioing the race committee to propose a new cut-off time of 8pm on Saturday as Andy had booked a table at Le Vauban for dinner, but we thought better of it.

With light airs and a strong tide, Longue Pierre settled for an unconventional start to the first offshore of the season, timing our run to the line from OCS and uptide. Dave got us a good start right next to the beach, with the crew hiking hard to leeward and Deb trying to look nonchalant as she glanced at the hand-held chart plotter with one eye and the depth with the other. Initially the boats offshore pulled away with lighter airs inshore, but the favourable tide built and a short tack inshore before Gurnard saw us take a couple of hundred yards out of a nearby boat. Our most pessimistic tidal calculations had shown we'd have a least a foot under the keel at Gurnard Ledge, so we sailed straight over it, much to Paul's shock when he saw the GPS track on the nav software.

Towards Yarmouth the wind almost died, and so we kept our bowmen, Toby and Matthew, out of mischief by letting them pull the spinnaker up, gybe it a few times, and drop it again before settling down to an expensive game of Pooh sticks. The wind seemed to be forming lanes down the Solent, so we gave up Pooh sticks and started playing Frogger, hopping into whichever lane had the fastest yachts in it and, by implication, the strongest wind. Things got confusing as we reached the Needles and converged with the Royal Southampton double-handed fleet, and there were nav lights everywhere, but we were soon around Bridge and settled in for the long fetch across the Channel.

Across the Channel, the race went like this. Trim, trim, trim, eat cherry flapjack, trim, trim, trim, drink tea, trim, trim, trim, eat ginger flapjack, repeat. I only come for the flapjack - I don't really like sailing - but Di's flapjack is definitely worth sitting on the rail all night for. Longue Pierre has a very fast medium 1 from Sanders Sails, and with Will and Frieda as chief go-faster merchants we rotated helms and trimmers all the way across, with an all too short couple of hours off-watch mid Channel. The sun rose, and we started the game of identifying the yachts in sight. "That's Zest", "No it's not", and so on. All too soon, we'd crossed the line and got the beers out, and started talking nonsense such as whether we should protest yachts for poor etiquette by flying their Fastnet battle flag above their JOG flag. Though what is correct etiquette with respect to battle flags? Does your jog battle flag, your boat battle flag or your largest battle flag take precedent? It seemed size mattered, Peter you had better order some larger ones.

Report From Oz Privateer, Class 3

With light wind predicted for the weekend we opted not to try out the hybrid drive sail and stick with the old North 2001 mainsail. Truth be known, now that I am not a man of leisure (for now), I just did not get time to pick it up from Hamble. Joining the crew for the weekend Zed was anxious to earn the title of "The Zed". To achieve the title of "The Zed" Phil had to complete an offshore without succumbing to the dreaded sea sickness otherwise he would revert back to plain old Zippy.We all arrived at Gins Farm with very little time for the usual niceties and had to motor out to the start with some frantic boat prep whilst underway.

At the start we noted that with a strong tide running against us we would need to get in towards the shore line, having found some clear space on the start line we tacked onto starboard, at which time we realised that if we were to hold our course we would put most of the class 3 boats into a sticky spot and risking damage to Oz (remembering last year's lack of sailing). So we tacked- then we forgot about the plan and sat in the tide whilst most boats charged off in the back eddy. What this complete lapse of concentration allowed for was an evening meal in company with Bouzouki who were enjoying dinner at their cockpit table lit by a rather fetching table lamp. After a rather slow crawl out of the Solent the wind steadied at Bridge allowing for a gentle fetch towards Cherbourg. Over night we passed a few class 5 and 4 boats who may have been rather startled by the loud snoring effect caused by Zed as he practiced anti sickness mediation in the windward berth.

As morning broke Bouzouki, who we had left behind before bridge came back to join us then left us as they charged towards the finish and no doubt a rather pleasant shower on board before settling down to a civilised breakfast whilst watching the news on the wide screen TV. Whilst this was not one of our best results it was a very pleasant sail and a very good party, as usual. Note to self, meet the crew of Merlin, a very shiny and well presented Prima.

Report from Tearaway Too, class 3.

The weather forecast was a great deal more promising than the originally planned bank holiday and, fully prepped up with the liferaft, making the start time of 8.00 pm was a little easier than normal. Sadly the oven took ages to heat up the frozen cottage pies (made for Easter) so we had started before they were ready and had to eat on the rail whilst ghosting down the Solent. We were a bit worried when the horn sounded for boat over the line but relieved when the radio announced all clear when the offender went back. As we couldn't see the start box we assumed that a lot were over! Eagle eyed race officers don't miss a thing! We chose a mid line position to get (just) the benefit of the back eddy whilst getting a bit more breeze than the beach end where it appeared flat calm.

Eventually the fair tide kicked in all across the Solent though with little wind. The whole fleet was becalmed off Yarmouth with some boats just seeming to have a private draft to wisp them past others that were stationary. Passing Hurst narrows we all popped into a perfect 10 knots to get us out to Bridge and then harden up a little for a non tactical, sheets just eased, fetch down the rhumb line to the finish. With wind between 10 and 15 knots the sail was pleasant and clear visibility let us see the lights of Barfleur, St Catherines and Cape de la Hague all at once from mid Channel. The Le Hague power station lights were visible from 20 miles off and, reasonably soon afterwards, the loom of Cherbourg. For the off watch the romance of the dawn and all these delights were lost! The on watch were just tired!

Sadly, the skipper had not entered the finish waypoint on the GPS and the actual position was set mid entrance, too low for the quickest finish, and we had to harden up and struggle to make a course to the transit. A lifting breeze in the harbour helped but not enough to save our time. Another lesson learnt (may be). A dolphin in the Outer Rade made us welcome too. It surfaced again just before the return start so we then all believed the "whale conspiracy" as it hadn't been seen by us all the first time!

Thanks to the race officers for the start and the finishing team there to greet us.

Report from Rapscallion, Class 5

Arriving off Egypt Point early for a change, we thought we’d put the additional time to good use and do a few runs to the line, only to find that on the actual start we were five seconds early and had to bear away. Still we were ‘up there’ or thereabouts. Very light winds to start and tide against. We were becoming convinced that there was a large elastic band attaching us to Gurnard because no matter how hard we tried to get away, it seemed to be pulling us back!. Eventually a bit more wind kicked in and we were able to get away and go inshore.

As not much seemed to be happening other than sailing very gently down the Solent on a lovely May evening, we decided it was time for a spot of dinner. A delicious Cassoulet avec baguette created by John was served up and very quickly demolished, with Battenberg cake for dessert. There was still very little happening on the sailing front other than trying to extract every ounce of speed. This extended to minor, and some not so minor tweaks on the leach lines carried out by “Lenny the Leach” – our erstwhile sail trim meister. Drifting gently past Yarmouth and we were beginning to wonder if the promised 12 knots was ever going to arrive. Lo and behold, just off Hurst, the wind arrives, which was just as well because the tide was pushing us towards the Shingles!. From here all the way to Cherbourg the wind was nice and constant. It seemed that the entire JOG fleet were all in the same area approaching Bridge, and it was certainly a sight to see one boat after another peeling off south on passing Bridge like a squadron of fighters.

Deciding early on, we kept to the west, steering 180 ish, knowing that the tide would take us that way anyway, but more importantly keep us uptide of Cherbourg come the morning. The fine reach/close haul across was just fantastic, we had good boat speed – regularly maintaining and even exceeding 6.5 knots. The stars were out and the Milky Way could just be made out. For two of the crew this was their first time across the Channel on a yacht, it was our first race across (two previous attempts aborted due to very little wind), and my first trip across overnight as Skipper. A great experience for all of the crew. Besides as someone said “Sailing at night is just the same as in daytime, except with the lights off”

Dawn sees us approximately 20 miles NNW of Cherbourg and an opportunity to see what’s around – not a lot as it transpired. Still batting along at 6.5 knots, it looks as if our course over the ground is going to take us down tide of Cherbourg and at 07:00 we bear away to around 190. This had the twofold benefit of increased speed and reducing the heel. Coming into the last few miles we can see a yacht ahead – “Equilibrium” as it turned out, and started to chase her. This bore fruit just as we passed Fort de L’Ouest where she tacked to port to go past the finish line. Rather than hit her or bear away we did the same, which took all her wind and took us over the line before her. Very pleased indeed to have got 7th place – our best result so far, and proof that we are learning, and improving, but most of all, enjoying it immensely.

Report from Persephone of London, Class 4

We started in very light winds off the Egypt point start line and had a port tack fetch westward past Yarmouth to turn left at Bridge buoy. Monet and Dragonfly decided to take an inshore track out of the remaining flooding tide. Initially the strategy paid handsomely as we and Marta played for more wind and tracked the deeper water on the southern edge of the main channel. As we approached Yarmouth though, the wind advantage seemed to work. Those way inshore struggled to get back into the now ebbing tide and an advantage of perhaps a mile or so was lost.

Dusk fell as the JOG fleet converged in Hurst Narrows with a Royal Southampton fleet bound for Weymouth. Persephone found a wind lane and we were amongst the early boats rounding Bridge. We were temporarily blinded as a larger boat reached in for the mark with not just a tricolour but also a bright white stern light at pushpit level and I had difficulty actually seeing the mark and settling on the course south to the finish line.

The slow leg down the Solent meant that we required a rethink on our navigation plan.We were immediately rolled by a white hulled boat with a transom mounted radar, charging through much faster than us. Worried this was Monet coming back at us, the crew concentrated hard to extract every ounce of speed from the rig. I settled for a course 10 degrees higher than I had planned in a breeze which was now 12 knots from the east south east and was tracking left over time. After a couple of hours the white lights of the larger boats were to our right and turning red, which I took to be a good sign.

In the morning, having made good speed, the boats to the west were no longer to be seen. There were a couple to the east, notably Breakout and Longue Pierre from class 4 whom we were catching as they soaked down to the western entrance of Cherbourg harbour and the finish line. Also in the mix was Prima 38 Oz Privateer. Monet finished about 10 minutes behind us and we identified the speeding radar carrier as Breakout. We were pleased with 3rd in class.

Report from Electron, Class 2, Double Handed

(Video will be available on the web site soon)

"What do you mean you have not got Friday afternoon off yet?" Said Skip. It was the Monday before the re-scheduled race and Skip was talking to Vickie, his crew, on the telephone. Vickie, with a calm and soothing voice replied: "Don't worry Skip, I'll have it sorted by Wednesday at the latest" There followed the usual niceties as the telephone conversation was terminated. As Skip hung up the phone he was deep in thought. It suddenly crossed his mind if you lose a crew member when you are sailing double handed you are screwed! "hmm" he thought: " I really must try and be nicer to Vickie"

As the weekend approached Vickie duly confirmed she had brow beaten her boss into submission and would arrive "mid afternoon" on Electron. She added that as it was her birthday weekend, Skip should be nice to her. Skip, relieved that he had a crew at all, threw caution to the wind and promised to buy Vickie dinner and beer in Cherbourg to celebrate - a promise he would later regret as Vickie, glass by glass, reminded him of her capacity for beer!!

What a pleasant evening. The sun was out, the Solent was calm and so was the wind!!! Skip and Vickie discussed tactics. As they worked around the deck and prepared the boat it was obvious they had started to get used to each other - in a way only double hander's can. As Vickie tidied a guy Skip said: "Why did you do that?" She replied: "You always leave it so I always tidy it - there isn't anyone else around to do it". Skip grinned. "Have you got your watch?" said Skip "Yes" said Vickie "Are you going to time the start" said Skip "Yes" said Vickie "It's going to be soon, are you ready" said Skip"Yes" said Vickie. Skip contemplated asking one more question on the basis that Vickie seemed to have become very used to saying yes when he recalled his "must be nicer to Vickie" thoughts and stopped. Good job really because she has a fast and strong back hander!

The start was a gentle affair with boats struggling to keep out of the tide and short tacking toward Gurnard. Everyone was well behaved. Electron yet again nearly hit the Cowes TV rib but they reversed out of the way with inches to spare! Thank you! What little breeze there was died and boats struggled to maintain way using tide wind but it was enough to keep forward momentum.

As the sun set and the sky darkened Alchemist seemed to find some breeze that Electron didn't and surged forward - never to be seen again (until Cherbourg that is). Skip looked around and exclaimed: "Jesus look at that". For once Electron was at the head of the fleet. Looking back eastwards down the Solent there was a veritable forest of red and green navigation lights from the JOG fleet on the Island shore and the RSYC fleet which started at the same time on the mainland shore.

The wind filled in and Bridge flew by. Shaping course for Cherbourg Skip and Vickie sorted the boat and started to discuss the watch system. "Two hours on and two hours off always seems to do it for me" said Skip. The race across was fast and uneventful. It was quite cold in the night which only confirmed that the cancellation of the race at Easter was totally correct.

As usual, the arrival at Cherbourg had Skip doing the "will I or wont I be the correct side of the tide" Sketch. For once he was the right side of the tide and in light airs Electron beat across the finish.

Tied up alongside Oz Privateer the beer and boat bread was the order of the day. It was nice of the Oz crew to come and take Electrons lines at the landing. A welcome assistance to short handed sailing. Discussing the race (as you do) Vickie hinted that she felt Electron should have done better: "Ah" said Skip "I think we can do a lot better". Vickie asked why and Skip replied that he had actually "forgot to navigate" on the way over and that he "would do better on the way back". Vickie was not amused!

The crew party was great. Fantastic to see old faces and meet new JOG'ers. Skip seemed to behave himself but those who know him well knew he was pacing himself. Vickie? Well it was her birthday weekend……

Report from J-Fever: Not the races to Cherbourg and back
March 21 and 22

We were set to go, checked we had 10 tins of sardines for the skipper, made and packed a simnel cake with some doubt that the crew would eat it and had the basis for a meal on Friday evening. It looked as if it would be a fast and fearful ride.Having just done the sea survival course during which the mantra had been "decide when you stop racing and start surviving" the skipperene was considering that that might be alongside the pontoon. The decision was made for us by the sailing committee, but the crew turned up just the same and so we had to provide some entertainment.

We had coffee and hot cross buns and went through the entire boats safety equipment in more detail than the skippers usual pre race briefing , where and what it is, how to use it, where we might keep the EPIRB which is about to dent the savings. We even had a session on how to light the stove and boil a kettle.

The sun was shining, and it seemed pleasant if cold, so we set off down the Hamble to play.

We put up the main with 2 reefs, put in the new 3rd reef, and then with a view to preserving the racing main, it was blowing over 35 knots even in Southampton Water, we dodged the shipping and ferries and put up the trysail instead. The plan was to try the no. 4 but we went straight for the storm jib which went up like a dream.

Next to the Solent, man overboard drill in strong wind if not waves. Regrettably no one managed to get the "man" (a fender tied to a bucket) on the first pass, but we all managed to retrieve it in the end. Remarkably few sails to be seen, and many of those looked as if they were out to try their storm sails. The squalls were sharp and fierce and we were all glad not to be racing across the channel. It was cold for the fingers however many layers we had on.

Heading back to the mooring we had soup and quiche and more hot coffee, a wonderful rainbow and lots of discussion.

Saturday we went on, more safety briefings, practice with the throwing line, put up sails alongside the pontoon, worked out better leads for the trysail sheets. It was windier and colder and our plans to go out and practice were abandoned. Richard was taking notes and in danger of using up the whole pad. So now we have a much better idea of our kit, the areas we need to work on, and the confidence that we have at least put up storm sails in a wind if not a seaway, and have all picked up a "man overboard".