Solent Super Series - Round 1 Cowes
by Mark Angell 16 Oct 01:27 PDT
12-13 October 2024
Solent Super Series Round 1 Cowes © John Green / @SolentSailPhotography
The first round of the 2024 Solent Super Series was contested this past weekend in the central Solent with competitors racing off the Island Sailing Club's line.
A mixture of SunFasts, a JPK 1030 and Dehler 30 set off to the West in 8 to 18kts of breeze on Saturday to tackle a 22nm [4hr] course with the fleet enjoying the flat water and taking the multiple corners in their stride. The event's signature first race of each round being a longer multi-mark 'orienteering' course, a challenge for navigators, tacticians and crews managing wind shifts, tidal effects and sail changes.
"Saturday's course was both brilliant and challenging, pushing all the teams to nail their hoists and drops, with plenty of opportunities to keep the nav on their toes. The shorter-handed racing format truly tests the teams and makes for a thrilling experience." Remarked Chris Baldwin skipper of Hair of the Dog.
"This year, Unity Sailing has entered all three of our Sunfast's, with crews who have trained and raced with us throughout the year. We had a fantastic weekend competing in the 4-up Solent Super Series and our teams are already excited for the next three events and destinations!"
For Race 2 ISC Race Officer Tod Taylor set a shorter course sending the fleet again to the West beating against the tide up the Cowes green and round the corner to Elephant Boatyard in Thorness Bay, the reward for the 50 minute beat was a fast downwind leg with the tide, tightening to a reach with boats flying a variety of sails.
Saturday's racing was followed by the Saturday social at Island SC with drinks supported by event organisers FourthCape. The fleet's tracking was available for teams to review with one another, an opportunity to recount well executed manoeuvres or account for any losses against the competition.
The Solent Super Series is tracked utilising the GeoRacing cellular tracking platform - all Round 1 Races available to replay at www.fourthcape.com/solentss
Sunday started with a gentle but cold northerly wind of 6kts, which allowed racing to get under way on schedule. [When a lot of other racing on the Solent had been abandoned]. The fleet headed East away from the ISC line with reaching sails hoisted and varying tactics employed, hug the island shore or straight line it to mark 1 Goodall Roofing? With the light wind dropping further, the course was shortened on the second leg after 3nm had been completed.
Congratulations to Insert Coin JPK 1030 counting 2, 1, 1 to win Round 1, with the SunFast 3200s Full Circle 2nd, and Hair of the Dog 3rd to complete the podium.
Next up is Round 2 on the 26th/27th October which will take the fleet out to the Eastern end of the Solent and Saturday night's port of call is supported by Boatfolk's wonderful Haslar Marina, Gosport.
More information about the Solent Super Series can be found at www.fourthcape.com/solentss