No sure if there are any sailors on here.

I just got back from the RTI 2014 (Isle of Wight circuit from Cowes), due to lack of wind was one of the slowest races I've been in almost looked like a 50 mile boat park. It is the 4th biggest group sports event (16,000 sailors) in the UK after the London marathon and the Great North and South runs

http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/536777/longest-d...-race-ever


Took us 13 hours to do the 50 mile circuit. Got quite worrying halfway round at St Cats when we ran out of water and had to resort to beer to rehydrate which was not as much fun as it sounds when you might have another 8 hours of sailing to go.

Despite more than half of the 1580 yachts retiring we managed to finish at 9pm, an hour before the line closes. I heard that one boat did not cross the finish until 4am! Respect to those that did complete it, and total understanding for those that bailed, it was a fair old nightmare, but still glad to have been part of it again this year.

Came 178th out of 1580 yachts and 33rd in class which we are pleased with considering the weather.

Click image to enlarge

Hello Flashman

Well done for sticking it out.

We were one of the retirees - we bailed at Ventnor as we too had exhausted water, were going backwards in some weird eddy and my crew had started on the G & T's at 0930!. Even the low flying Herc didn't fill the sails!

Still the sun shone and I have some great shots of barely filled spinnakers mirrored on the calmest seas I have seen for a while!

There's always next year! 10MY 3.6TDV8 Vogue SE - Stornoway Grey
Stable Mate: 1961 Series II

It was interesting to see yachts going all over the place in a race but after 8 hours it was becoming painful. The early starters were lucky to catch the last dying breeze to squeeze past St Cats, those that started around and after 8am had a pretty tough time limping from one wind hole to another. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

1580 yachts ..would have loved to see an 'aerial' view of that race.. ... - .- -.




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thats impressive, thanks for that Tom.  ... - .- -.




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Normally on such a race you have a high risk of collision from racing a hard line. But in this case it was all about stopping your boat drift into another in very slow motion with no steerage at all. Lots of fender and boat hook work for many.

As always a great level of camaraderie and heavy drinking after the feat.

Also try to avoid eating at the curry house Saffron in Cowes, we did on Friday night and all had to sail with dicky bellies. Not much fun with 5 diarrhetic guys on board for 13 hours straight. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Shame you couldn't have harnessed the ar$e wind to better effect, Tom, although I suspect the strong liklehood of follow-through wouldn't do the sails any good.

Pictures look great, but I can understand your frustrations.  Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Wow, great pics, the one from the air makes the yachts look like toys.

Well the one benefit of a bad stomach in a race is that we were able to shed weight faster than most but it did not give us much advantage in the end.  Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Wow, that is a heck of a lot of boats.
My sister keeps her boat at lymington haven and we often go over to the Isle of Wight. There are some stunning Yachts in the marinas. We probably wouldn't be that popular with you as her boat does this....

Click image to enlarge

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

I have no issue with motor boats if driven considerately but there were a few a$$holes buzzing at full pelt closely through the crowded stalled yachts causing chaos with their wake. Not very considerate at all considering it is a well known race in the area and even a child knows a sail boat cannot steer or move easily with no wind.

We were considering lassoing one to give us a bit of momentum, but our ropes were not long enough. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

When the regattas are on the boat is generally moored up with lots of wine drinking taking place.
Yes, buzzing the yachts is not on. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Starboard!! 2007 Zermatt Silver TDV8 Vogue SE - now sold but was a great car!

takes me back. Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey