Cowes-Poole-Cowes Passage Race
Published 19:35 on 21 Jul 2025
Cowes-Poole-Cowes Passage Race Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July 2025
Due to adverse wind/tide conditions on Saturday morning, the seven boats motored down to North Head for a gateway start. The general consensus was that there was not enough wind to get the fleet through Hurst before the tide changed so our normal start (RORC mark) was changed to North Head. Connie was on station as the starting boat for a gate start, which appeared to work well. The fleet headed off inshore in good breeze and finished at Poole Bar No. 1 in good time, with Firefly taking the win. Connie took second place closely followed by Corafin.
The annual cake baking competition (cakes to be baked during the race) proved another success with the marina managers of Poole Town Quay enjoying the spoils. Peregrine took line honours with their water bath baked offering, with Fireflys Victoria Sponge taking second place and Connies smiley face Malteser cake in third. The wooden spoon (if only they had one on board) went to Corafins cheesecake least said, soonest mended!
Peregrine then hosted a fun pontoon party serving their Lynchburg Lemonade which was extremely good probably a little too good, followed by dinner in the Oriel on the Quay restaurant, who looked after us so well again.
Sundays race saw some large rollers coming in and it was a challenge for Muscadet de Havelet to stay on station to start the race, but start it they did and the fleet made their way on a reach towards Hurst. Some went further south, but all the fleet pretty much met at Hurst after couple of hours racing, with Bugler first through the narrows and off they went goose-winging their way up the Solent towards the finish at Hampsted Ledge. Corafin were the first to brave hoisting their kite and it paid off as they sped off in hot pursuit of Bugler. Firefly and Connie followed suit and the three of them all finished within 10 seconds of each other (Corafin 2nd, Firefly 3rd, Connie 4th), with Bugler managing to maintain their lead to take the win (father/daughter combination - double-handed).
Full results at: https://events2.ksail.co.uk/CO...
Words: Mel McQueen. Photo: Rob Hamlett
Last updated 19:37 on 21 July 2025