CONTESSA 32
RACING IN THE SOLENT
(Based on the 2002 programme!......
... as an example. See here for 2006 programme.)
Royal
Lymington 11/5
Royal
Solent 25/5
Itchenor 29/6
Royal Albert 13/7
Hayling Island 27/7
Royal London 31/8
The racing in the Solent takes place from May to October. It consists of:
- A series of 6 weekend meetings (1 race on Saturday, 1 on Sunday) with races of about 3-5 hours each around Solent racing marks.
- The National Championships over three days consisting of a coastal race, a race round the marks and a series of fast and frantic windward/leeward races.
- COWES week - racing every day for a week.
- The Round the Island race where the Contessas have their own class with normally 30-40 entries.
(The following sections describe Solent Racing except Cowes Week which is covered in a separate document.)
THE
WEEKEND INSHORE SERIES
The weekend races are hosted by a different Solent Yacht club each weekend.
The first race starts around Saturday lunchtime- allowing boats to arrive
from all over the Solent. They normally start near the host club on a
line from a committee boat from that host club (who incidentally send out
the Race Instructions, etc.)
After this, all the boats berth together at the nearest marina to the host club. There is usually a boat designated to run a drinks party from 1730 - 1830 to ensure we all get a chance to meet. After this there is a dinner at the host yacht club (blazer and tie, etc.) for which there is a charge of about £15-18 per head.
The second race starts, again from the host club committee boat or line, at about 1000-1030 on Sunday morning, finishing about 1400, allowing boats to get to their home port at a reasonable time.
The social side is regarded as very important and newcomers will be made to feel welcome. We currently get 16-23 boats at a weekend race and we, who race, really would like to see more coming.
The standard is high as many of the boats have been racing for 10 years or more! ..but don't be put off. All the skippers will offer advice and help so don't hesitate to contact the association for help. If you haven't raced much before, you may have to allow yourself 2 or 3 seasons until you start mixing it with the fleet.
This season we will be running a "cruiser" race alongside the main race (starting 10 mins later and no spinnakers) as a means of allowing newcomers to start more easily.
These descriptions apply to the 2002 programme.
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ROYAL LYMINGTON - MAY 11/12th.
Off to the West Solent for this weekend.
We have not been to the Royal Lymington YC much in recent years and we are delighted that they will be our hosts. There has been some problem with mooring in Lymington over the last few years but with a mid-May date we hope this will not occur this year. The Yacht Haven, where we plan to moor, is a ten minute walk from Lymington town and the Club so is well placed for shopping at the Saturday morning market before or after the racing.
Starts are usually from committee boat not far from the
Lymington River entrance.
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The Royal Solent is in Yarmouth, IOW. The racing is in the West Solent, often going down to Hurst Castle. The Yacht club has a panoramic view over the Solent, has excellent facilities and has always put on a smashing evening for the Contessas. The start is usually off the RSYC start line, about 800 meters East of the Harbour Entrance and is normally a committee boat start.
However, be warned! If the wind is light or in the wrong direction the start may well be on the other side of the Solent and with the strong tides at this end it is dead easy to miss the start under these conditions. Listen out on the Radio (Channel 37) and if in doubt call "Solent Committee Boat" and ask.
The berthing is at Hayles Boatyard at the far end of Yarmouth Harbour.
This allows us to walk ashore to the club which is about 1/2 mile away.
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ITCHENOR SAILING CLUB - JUNE 29/30th.
Itchenor is about 3 miles up the river from the entrance to Chichester Harbour. The Sailing Clubhouse is in the most beautiful rural setting and is always a great social and sailing venue. Some say the highlight of the seasons "after sailing" social scene.The club is most welcoming and the food is always good. and their afternoon teas are really quite something !! At this eastern end of the Solent the racing starts are usually close to CHI buoy near to the entrance of Chichester Harbour. The racing is in Hayling Bay which has the advantage of pretty equitable tides.
As this is some miles from the centre of the Solent, we are planning an "un-official" passage event for central Solent boats both Cruisers and racers from Hill Head to Itchenor with a Bottle of wine for the first three. This will be timed to arrive at Itchenor in time for the race but if conditions require it will be up to each boat to decide how they get there in time.
After the Saturday race we moor up in the quiet of the Itchenor channel, off the club, on swinging moorings. They are very substantial and don't be surprised to see 6 or more Contessas on each buoy! This is some twenty five minutes motoring up Chichester Harbour.
The club plan to provide a ferry service to get ashore for drinks and
Dinner on Saturday and for breakfast on Sunday. Sometimes it is possible to
stay at the club by arrangement with the Club Secretary.
The start is usually in the vicinity of Gilkicker Point and with the racing in the Spithead area. We will be starting around slack water so that we can get some early legs in across to the Island side, before finishing the course on the Portsmouth shelf. We hope to moor on the Portsmouth side of the Harbour but this is not yet confirmed.
If not we shall moor in the Marina at Gosport side and
have a ferry service to the Portsmouth side.
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HAYLING ISLAND - JULY 27/28 th.
The club is located at the entrance to
Chichester Harbour. The club house should be rebuilt by the time of
our visit. After the successful National Championships last year we
look forward to returning there. Racing will be in Hayling Bay.
Accommodation may be available at the club. We plan to moor at Sparkes
Marina just inside the entrance to Chichester Harbour.
The racing is in Hayling Bay, again
with committee boat starts, often but not always close to Bay buoy.
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ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB, COWES - AUG 31st./SEPT 1st.
As our Class Captain is a member of the RLYC committee, it seems only fair that we race there!! The dinner there is guaranteed to be excellent.We plan to use the Cowes marina or UK Sailing marina for moorings. Again a central Solent location where we hope to have committee boat starts with the likely location of the committee vessel published with the sailing instructions or sometimes the club gives the location on the VHF well before the start.
Immediately after the racing on Saturday the OOD will host
a cocktail party.
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ROYAL SOUTHERN -2 BOAT TEAM RACING - JUNE 8/9th.
This was tried last year and was a FANTASTIC SUCCESS.
You will learn more about racing in this wekend than in the whole rest of
the season. This is not about who goes the fastest but who is the
cleverest! You will probably do 12 starts over the two days.
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THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS - SEPT
13-15th.
This is when we welcome boats from other parts of the UK. The event
runs for three days Friday through to Sunday.
The racing is competitive as always but don't be put off by our description "Championships" it is really an excuse to have three days racing and Contessa fun!! The social plan is to hold a Dinner on one evening and a less formal event on the other. It is usual to have a long race on Friday with two short races on Saturday and the last fairly short race on Sunday. There will be prizes for each race but no discards for the overall weekend winner.
There will be a low cost social event on one evening and a formal dinner on the other.
At his event we often get quite a few cruising boats and other Contessa owners. We particularly welcome them joining us at this event as it is our National showpiece.(Back to top)
COWES WEEK - AUGUST
3-10th.
The racing event of the year. We normally have about 30 Contessas for
the whole week. We moor together at the UKSA marina about half a mile
upstream from Cowes.
If you want to race you have to do Cowes week. Social life unbelievable!
The social programme is ...... (link to be added)
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ROUND THE ISLAND - JUNE 22nd.
This is really a spectacle. Something like 1200 boats start in 10 or
12 classes. Last year was a downwind start and the sight of 1000
spinnakers running down the Solent had to be seen to believed. Among
the 1200 there were 40+ Contessas and their results are reported as a
separate class.
The race starts off the RYS Line at Cowes and typically takes about 8 hours. This is a long day and most crew socialise on board (Harrods's Hampers, etc.) and we don't have a specific CO32 event in the evening.
A good hint - get to the Needles early as it can get pretty busy around
the corner!!
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ISLAND DOUBLE - AUG
17th.
This event run by the Royal Southampton YC and is thoroughly
recommended for the two person crew. The winning Contessa 32 in this event
will be awarded the Gualin trophy.
Queries to Ray Rouse.
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Basically you get an entry form from the
RACING
SECRETARY, David Richards. If you know at the beginning of the
season that you are going to race, fill in the form and send an entry fee
for the whole season (gets a discount!). If you then don't go,
providing you give notice, you will get your money back.
THERE IS A COPY OF THE ENTRY FORM ON OUR WEB. IT IS HERE (Note: It is a WORD document download)
The entry form covers all the races above and Cowes Week. However - the fee only covers the Inshore series which we organise. Your entry for all the others will be forwarded, by us, to the appropriate race authority and they will then send you the detailed paper work closer to the date.