JOG - Nab Tower
Discussion
Did the JOG NAB tower race on Saturday in a 32ft Class 3 (fastest class in the race) boat. We were up against Prima 38's, Swan 45's etc, etc. Following a reasonably quiet start, the breeze picked up off Ryde Pier and we spent a fantastic 40 minutes planing past all the big boats in our class. Our top speed was 15.1kts, with an average of just over 12kts from Cowes to the Nab Tower. Some pretty "interesting" moments on the way down through the Solent, including submarining at about 14kts, a couple of good broaches due to the breeze shifting through 20* with little warning etc, etc! We were running a full main & 1.5oz a-sail for the blast down the Solent & through the forts. Off Cowes a couple of minutes after the start, we were discussing whether to peel to the large (0.5oz & 25% bigger!) a-sail as we were only trolling along at about 8 kts or so. However, as soon as the breeze kicked in, we were pretty pleased that we had decided to remain a little prudent, as the gusts would have blown the big kite out pretty quickly...
Got to Nab tower in 6th place on the water (about 2nd or 3rd on handicap) & enjoyed a good blast reach back to the forts at the eastern entrance to the Solent. The breeze then started going from 12 kts to 38+kts & back again in a matter of seconds all the way back up to Cowes. Consequently, we were going from full main to 2 reefs & back again pretty much constantly on the way past Ryde sands to Osborne Bay.
All in all, a fantastic race with a slightly disappointing mid-fleet finish due to being blown all over the ocean on the way back from the forts to Cowes, whereas the larger displacement boats were able to cope with the very windy conditions a lot better!!
Got to Nab tower in 6th place on the water (about 2nd or 3rd on handicap) & enjoyed a good blast reach back to the forts at the eastern entrance to the Solent. The breeze then started going from 12 kts to 38+kts & back again in a matter of seconds all the way back up to Cowes. Consequently, we were going from full main to 2 reefs & back again pretty much constantly on the way past Ryde sands to Osborne Bay.
All in all, a fantastic race with a slightly disappointing mid-fleet finish due to being blown all over the ocean on the way back from the forts to Cowes, whereas the larger displacement boats were able to cope with the very windy conditions a lot better!!
Edited by schmalex on Monday 14th April 11:21
Nice one. What is your boat called?
I crewed in a lot of JOG races last season on 'Arcsine'. In fact, we won the offshore series.
I used to drive three hours to get to the Hamble, now I live right on the Pacific, the Atlantic is 40 miles away, but nobody races sailboats down here, not good.
I loved the offshore races, some of the starry nights in the Channel were spectacular.
Have you done a write-up for the JOG website?
I crewed in a lot of JOG races last season on 'Arcsine'. In fact, we won the offshore series.
I used to drive three hours to get to the Hamble, now I live right on the Pacific, the Atlantic is 40 miles away, but nobody races sailboats down here, not good.
I loved the offshore races, some of the starry nights in the Channel were spectacular.
Have you done a write-up for the JOG website?
Edited by Mahatma Bag on Thursday 17th April 04:08
It's not my boat, unfortunately!!!
It is an Archambault Grand Surprise called "Flying Boat". I have raced with the owner for about 10 years or so now on various different "Flying Boat's".
As the SSS (stability) rating isn't high enough, we can't compete in either RORC or JOG offshore series', so tend to focus on round the cans stuff or coastal series.
It is an absolute rocket ship though. 32ft long and we give time to Prima 38's, Dehler 44's etc, so unless we get a strong blow on a long downwind leg to enable us to get planing with pretty flat water up the beats we don't really stand much of a chance on handicap!! We won our class in the Poole to Cowes race last year, simply because it was kite all the way back & we averaged over 14kts all the way!!
A bit of a shame we don't take it offshore really, as I used to love racing offshore. I won the JOG Junior Trophy on "Cruella Deville" in 1992. I then changed boats to "Serendip" and was lucky enough to win our class in the 1993 Fastnet and won our class in the RORC offshore series' in 1993 and 1994.
It is an Archambault Grand Surprise called "Flying Boat". I have raced with the owner for about 10 years or so now on various different "Flying Boat's".
As the SSS (stability) rating isn't high enough, we can't compete in either RORC or JOG offshore series', so tend to focus on round the cans stuff or coastal series.
It is an absolute rocket ship though. 32ft long and we give time to Prima 38's, Dehler 44's etc, so unless we get a strong blow on a long downwind leg to enable us to get planing with pretty flat water up the beats we don't really stand much of a chance on handicap!! We won our class in the Poole to Cowes race last year, simply because it was kite all the way back & we averaged over 14kts all the way!!
A bit of a shame we don't take it offshore really, as I used to love racing offshore. I won the JOG Junior Trophy on "Cruella Deville" in 1992. I then changed boats to "Serendip" and was lucky enough to win our class in the 1993 Fastnet and won our class in the RORC offshore series' in 1993 and 1994.
Edited by schmalex on Thursday 17th April 14:20
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