Fastnet 2021 - The Race Itself

Two weeks prior to the Fastnet Race we had our final preparatory race in the Channel. Essentially this was an extended Round the Island Race and was an opportunity to further refine our skills under the great leadership of skipper Simon Dipple. We managed the gybes under spinnaker well, if a bit slow, and our upwind performance through the tacks became quicker, not losing much speed. Once again the conditions were very benign and we had to hunt for any wind at times to keep the boat moving, Overall we finished 8th in class and 47th overall: a great result we felt. Time to rest before the big one: The Rolex Fastnet Race!

In the week leading up to the race we were all watching the weather and the steady streams of lows coming in from the west - how strong would the wind be? What direction, what sea state?.....It was not looking great as we made our way down to our boat, Sfida (Challenge in Italian) on the Saturday. We were all going to be challenged at the start!

Saturday was spent prepping the boat by removing all unwanted weights and accessories before loading our provisions and kit. With ten people on board and allowing 2 litres of water per person per day we had to find a home for an awful lot of water bottles! Saturday night was spent eating fish and chips discussing our strategy the the race and mentally preparing before an early night.

The day of the race arrived and the wind had picked up as forecast - it was going o be a bumpy first 24 hours and with wind over tide leaving the Solent the chop would be high and short. For those who don't know, one of the conditions of the race is that you have to pass through a check gate where all the competitors, on this occasion, were asked to have their storm sails up and everyone in lifejackets with three point harnesses on. We hoped that this was the only time we'd be needing these sails up.

As we motored down to the start, our class being the last to go, the size of the fleet and the conditions became very clear. This was not going to be a fight for the best starting position for us but a case of getting through safely as we didn't want our race to be over before it had started. As we waited I saw one de-masting, several boats pull out due to injuries to the crew and various collisions. We watched the other classes start and then it was our turn. Warning hooter...engine off...watch the clock and build up speed...Bang, the starting canon goes off and we're off - our Fastnet Race has started. Most of the crew were on the rail being encourage to hike out, with Gareth, the boat owner, on the helm and Simon Dipple and myself running the pit with no.4 jib. Ready to tack... helm over... controlled release...  and take up of the jib on the other side... crew transfer to high side... grind in the jib as we pick up speed. And so this continued down the Solent towards the exit and Bridge! The seas built up, the wind screamed (30plus knots on the nose) and we were tossed about for twenty minutes but once through it calmed down... slightly. We then settled into our two watches and beat down the English coast for the next day and a half. Fortunately the wind did ease as predicted and the conditions became slightly easier (but not easy) and Simon had the challenge of negotiating the best route around Land's End and past The Scillies whilst not encroaching on the traffic separation zones. We overtook three yachts who had gone too close to the islands and had fallen into a wind hole. It felt great to be sailing past other yachts and it was then up the Celtic Sea towards the rock on a beam reach. We were making fast progress as the wind built. Time to put the reef back in the main, at night and with driving rain. Not an easy task with lines having to be re-threaded.

On Wednesday morning we reached and rounded the rock in drizzle (Irish sunshine) before turning back south, hoisting the no.4 spinnaker and sprinting towards the Isles of Scilly and Cherbourg. The sun came out, the dolphins swam alongside us as we reached doing over 12 knots, surfing down the waves - this was the life. Then we heard a low flying helicopter - we were on film! Do see how many times you can spot us in the RORC videos.

Soon it was time to turn east towards Cherbourg as we rounded The Scillies. This is where tactically it became challenging as the wind turned very variable and how close to the Alderney Race should we go? This was a high stakes game and getting it wrong could be a disaster. In the end a lower risk strategy was adopted which, with hindsight, cost us a place amongst the First 40s. The fleet converged on the western entrance of Cherbourg's outer breakwater and we all went through one at a time. We'd finished!

It was down with the sails and a slow motor to the marina. With the last minute changes to the COVID regulations for France we'd decided to stop for a few hours and have a chance to celebrate our achievements and success as a team. Overall we'd come 99th in the IRC fleet and 17th in class - not bad for a bunch of land-locked, semi-retired Midlands sailors!

Doing the race is not only physically challenging but also a mental and emotional rollercoaster. This was really brought home to me as we entered the marina in Cherbourg and several French onlookers applauded all the crews. Tears came to my eyes - yes, I had just completed my first Fastnet Race with a fantastic bunch of people who I am proud to call my friends. However all of this would not have been possible without the great leadership of Simon Dipple who guided us safely round, supported by Steph Williams.

For the whole of the crew the HOEOCA Fastnet 2021 campaign was as a series of firsts and we'll be talking more about this and other 'stuff' at the Speaker Night on 18 November. Please book the date in your diary.