Js in the Solent

Racing gets underway. Extensive photo gallery fronm KOS

A difficult first day with strong winds and a fierce outgoing tide faced the four J Class yachts at the start of the Solent regatta.

A great line up at the start saw Ranger and Velsheda cross just ahead of Lionheart and Rainbow. Both Lionheart and Rainbow crossed onto the North shore for the long beat into a strong 20 knot southwest wind and building sea.

Ranger and Velsheda elected to work the island shore, where the outgoing tide was expected to be stronger in their favour. At the weather mark, now crowded with spectator boats from all around the Solent, Ranger rounded first, with Lionheart close behind, followed by Rainbow and Velsheda, which had slipped back. Ranger gybe set onto a symmetrical kite while Lionheart split from her with a bearaway set onto an assymetric kite. Ranger now drew ahead sailing best angles into the foul tide with the symmetrical.

The gap between the yachts never really opened up significantly and all boats crossed the line within 137 seconds.

Finishing positions across the line were unaltered by the very small handicaps that apply to each individual yacht, to account for small performance differences.

Results
1st Ranger
2nd Lionheart
3rd Rainbow
4th Velsheda

Photos below (click on them to enlarge) by ©Kos/kospictures.com