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Lutine crew storms Bastille and holds its nerve to enter Fastnet
Once again the 2007 Lloyd's Yacht Club Lutine crew were in action in the Cowes-Dinard-St Malo race in one of the last opportunities to qualify for the 2007 Fastnet yacht race, which will take place from August 12 to 19.
Due to adverse weather conditions earlier in the season, we were running short of the prerequisite miles in order to enter the race and so it was of paramount importance that we finished it under almost any circumstances.
Conspiring against us were the navigator's two arch enemies: distance and time. Distance because this race was approximately 170 miles as the crow flies, and time because although we started on the Friday, half of the crew had to be on a return ferry Sunday morning. Brittany Ferries, in our experience, are akin to time and tide, i.e. they wait for no man.
With this at the forefront of our minds the race crew, bedecked in new team kit sponsored by Kiln, Zurich and Jardine Lloyd Thompson, brought Lutine to the start line in good order for the Friday morning start off Cowes.
Some pre-start manoeuvres saw an opportunity for an unorthodox run at the line that afforded clear water and clean air as we headed west down the Solent on the turning tide and under full sail.
The effect of the island and the gusting winds made for some exciting sailing as the IRC 1 fleet swiftly reeled in the earlier starters by Yarmouth.
The significance of this will be well known to sailors of the western Solent but, for the uninitiated, the narrow stretch of water near the Needles Channel soon fills with boats of all sizes exercising their rights and flirting with the shallow water to maintain their position.
Lutine was no different and as such the crew should be commended for their focused determination to the task that led to a robust series of manoeuvres and clear water. Following this excitement, the watches fell into routine as the fleet headed west through the afternoon towards Portland Bill, from where the Channel Islands could be reached.
Unfortunately the breeze slowly died throughout this period, leading to some trying conditions that saw the early advantages eaten into by the lighter, faster boats.
However, as dusk became night and Les Casquets traffic separation scheme slid past, the breeze again rose and led to what some later described as "unnecessarily spirited" sea conditions around the Channel Islands.
Particular mention should be made of the rounding of Les Hanois at the western tip of Guernsey, where a racing line Lewis Hamilton would be proud of was described through the comparative shallows. The motion below decks was such that the oncoming watch found it impossible to stand, and had to resort to wedging themselves into whatever corner they could find to dress. The act of getting deck became a team effort.
Upon rounding Guernsey and easing sails, the motion decreased as we sped towards the finish. However, the final twist of fate saw Lutine anchored a mile from the line with no wind for an hour before finally crossing the finish line at 1402 hrs on Saturday afternoon.
Safe in the knowledge that qualification was assured, the crew enjoyed the excellent hospitality of the yacht club and the town of St Malo before witnessing an exceptional Bastille Day `son et lumière' firework display later that night. The next day, half the crew bade a sad farewell to Lutine and embarked on the significantly faster return journey, safe in the knowledge of a job well done.
Due to adverse weather conditions earlier in the season, we were running short of the prerequisite miles in order to enter the race and so it was of paramount importance that we finished it under almost any circumstances.
Conspiring against us were the navigator's two arch enemies: distance and time. Distance because this race was approximately 170 miles as the crow flies, and time because although we started on the Friday, half of the crew had to be on a return ferry Sunday morning. Brittany Ferries, in our experience, are akin to time and tide, i.e. they wait for no man.
With this at the forefront of our minds the race crew, bedecked in new team kit sponsored by Kiln, Zurich and Jardine Lloyd Thompson, brought Lutine to the start line in good order for the Friday morning start off Cowes.
Some pre-start manoeuvres saw an opportunity for an unorthodox run at the line that afforded clear water and clean air as we headed west down the Solent on the turning tide and under full sail.
The effect of the island and the gusting winds made for some exciting sailing as the IRC 1 fleet swiftly reeled in the earlier starters by Yarmouth.
The significance of this will be well known to sailors of the western Solent but, for the uninitiated, the narrow stretch of water near the Needles Channel soon fills with boats of all sizes exercising their rights and flirting with the shallow water to maintain their position.
Lutine was no different and as such the crew should be commended for their focused determination to the task that led to a robust series of manoeuvres and clear water. Following this excitement, the watches fell into routine as the fleet headed west through the afternoon towards Portland Bill, from where the Channel Islands could be reached.
Unfortunately the breeze slowly died throughout this period, leading to some trying conditions that saw the early advantages eaten into by the lighter, faster boats.
However, as dusk became night and Les Casquets traffic separation scheme slid past, the breeze again rose and led to what some later described as "unnecessarily spirited" sea conditions around the Channel Islands.
Particular mention should be made of the rounding of Les Hanois at the western tip of Guernsey, where a racing line Lewis Hamilton would be proud of was described through the comparative shallows. The motion below decks was such that the oncoming watch found it impossible to stand, and had to resort to wedging themselves into whatever corner they could find to dress. The act of getting deck became a team effort.
Upon rounding Guernsey and easing sails, the motion decreased as we sped towards the finish. However, the final twist of fate saw Lutine anchored a mile from the line with no wind for an hour before finally crossing the finish line at 1402 hrs on Saturday afternoon.
Safe in the knowledge that qualification was assured, the crew enjoyed the excellent hospitality of the yacht club and the town of St Malo before witnessing an exceptional Bastille Day `son et lumière' firework display later that night. The next day, half the crew bade a sad farewell to Lutine and embarked on the significantly faster return journey, safe in the knowledge of a job well done.
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