heppell.net/cracker

Round the Island Race 2003

So, Kate and Lucy and Melissa and Fender and David and Richard and Toby and Gordon and Dave and Stephen all took Cracker round the Isle of Wight in the biggest yacht race in the world with, gulp, 1,594 entries.
We ended up 9th in our class and 87th overall.

...which was not bad considering the engine boiled and overheated (stop!) on the way to the start (don't panic, hoist the sails,.. where is the line.. oh, panic) and all the water we had on board then went into the engine (slowly!) including Fender's tasty lime flavoured stuff... thus we were a bit flustered still when the gun went.. and a good 30 seconds late for the line.. not a great start (this is a very long way of saying that the skipper made a rubbish start..), but kept to our tactics down to the Needles, had a great beat up the back of the Island and clear air from Bembridge Ledge to Cowes... we did pass an awful olt of boats and can see where we could have been better. perhaps we'd better start planjning next year a bit earlier.

more pictures here

Dawn start as 1594 boats head for the line
Dawn start as 1,594 boats head for the line...
...and come to the Squadron line from all directions
...and come to the Squadron line from all directions
the team contemplate the start.. as the engine is fixed (it died on the way out..Doh!)
the team contemplate the start.. as the engine is fixed (it died on the way out..Doh!)
let's talk tactics... hmm there's only about 500 over at that end
let's talk tactics... hmm there's only about 500 down at that end - looks quite quiet
 just remind me, how did you get to be called Fender again?
just remind me, how did you get to be called Fender again?
gentle breezes to the Needles as we stay offshore and keep the breeze
gentle breezes to the Needles as we stay offshore and keep the breeze,... trim trim trim
there are quite a few in front at this stage... !
there are quite a few in front at this stage... !
hmm, maybe a better start might have helped us Dad
hmm, maybe a better start might have helped us Dad
after the Needles - we were a bit busy for photos going round them (wonder why?)
after the Needles - we were a bit busy for photos going round them (wonder why?) and for the whole South side beat which was quick for us - tack, shift, tack, shift, tide
gentle breezes.. long legs...
gentle breezes.. long legs.. we had mostly good breeze round the back and needed everyone on the rail the whole way after this gentle start.
round the Ledge and still plenty of boats front..
... finally round the Ledge and still a good few boats front..
...but enormous numbers behind. We had a good beat up the back of the Island (hence no pictures!) - faces tell a story
...but by then there were enormous numbers behind. We had had a good beat up the back of the Island (hence no pictures!) - happy team faces tell a story
concentrate for HOW many miles? They did though
concentrate for HOW many miles? They did though... watch those tell tales, trim, watch, trim...
 ...all the way round... trim, trim, trim, trim
...all the way back to Cowes... trim, trim, trim, trim
and space opening up around us... faster and faster
and with good space opening up around us... faster and faster
..whcih is good to look back at
..whcih is good to look back at as the boom's held out
 tired but happy.. we've made up shedloads of places
a tired but happy Kate.. we've made up shedloads of places and are surrounded by a lot of boats that started way ahead
 ..through lots of hard work and some nifty tactics
...all through lots of hard work and some nifty tactics... trim, trim, trim
maybe we get the engine fixed before next year skipper?
maybe we get the engine fixed before next year skipper? and why is the water always so blue when the race goes well?
boats from fort to horizon.. wonderful spectacle
boats from Fort to horizon.. wonderful spectacle
..and clear wind behind.. lovely last leg from the fort
..and clear wind behind.. lovely last leg from the fort
1,594 is a lot of boats - biggest yacht race in the world. Oo er.
1,594 is a lot of boats - biggest yacht race in the world. Oo er.
nice kite, thank's Quantum
nice kite, thank's Quantum
nearly home..
nearly home..
we just kept being astonished by how many there were behind.. and what a sight!
we just kept being astonished by how many there were behind.. and what a sight!
last hazard.. misssd it! David and Lucy decide the delivery was worth it
last hazard.. misssd it! David and Lucy decide the delivery was worth it
even at the end there's a lot of boats still going for it.. this lot all gybed together to come off the shore
even at the end there's a lot of boats still going for it.. this lot all gybed together to come off the shore
and Cowes is in sight, at about 4.00pm. Perfect day
and Cowes is in sight, at about 4.00pm. Perfect day
perfect weather (but a few problems for some..)
perfect weather (but a few problems for some..)
brilliantly organised declaration barge - they had big nets!
brilliantly organised declaration barge - they had big nets!