November's Fast Cruise again became a tidal challenge.  It was another weekend of big tides but with the added attraction of light winds as well. I was sailing on a chartered boat this time and to take full advantage of the winter weekend charter conditions of 3 days for the price of 2, two of us set off from Hamble Point on Friday morning to move the yacht to Haslar ready for an early start on Saturday morning. After a short break in Cowes to take on some liquids in the Union we arrived at Haslar around 16:30 in very poor visibility and 34 knots of wind from the west.

Saturday morning was a complete contrast.  The wind had died away and the sun was beginning to appear (just has I had arranged!). Our boat came equipped with a cruising chute and whilst we waited for the last member of our crew to arrive via the Gosport ferry, we removed the snuffer so that we could practise our fast racing hoists.

With the forecast of light winds (5 - 10 knots) we decided to shorten the planned course before the start by taking out a complete triangle.  This turned out to be a very wise decision. The course that Don had set took us from the start, just outside the forts to Dean Elbow against the rapidly building west going tide.  At least this time it was downwind and most boats hoisted coloured sails at the start. Our cruising chute wasn't the most efficient and so we "tacked" downwind trying to work the wind angles and increase boat speed (and hopefully VMG). Those boats that carried symmetric spinnakers managed to sail shallower angles than the majority of boats and A Day at the Races and Arvika soon pulled out a commanding lead. We managed to sail this leg quite fast and were with the leading park of the rest of the boats at the first mark.

The second leg was a close reach from the green channel marker to its corresponding red channel marker but then there was a long beat down tide through the forts and into the Solent. The two leading boats had turned down tide before the rest of the pack had reached the first buoy and increased their lead even further.

It was on the beat that I realised how bad the sails were on our chartered boat. I know in light winds a fuller sail is needed but ours resembled a hot air ballon on its side.  My attempts to improve the set of the sail are probably best reported on the confessions page. Suffice to say I had opportunity to practise my whipping skills!

During the first beat it seemed that every boat sailed past us; and Don's course meant that a lot of legs were to windward. However, as we approached the furthest west buoy, Peel Bank, we realised that we were nearly within touching distance of the leaders.  They had turned the mark and were trying to run eastwards against the tide but the wind had fallen away to only about 2 knots and they were not going anywhere.

Don modelling this winter's Fast Cruise wear

Unfortunately we were too slow reaching Peel Bank and as we were trying to beat towards it in virtually a flat calm the tide began to turn.  A very black cloud had appeared to the west but the tide turned before the wind arrived and we drifted away from the mark.  Of course the boats that had already rounded drifted in the direction they wanted to go.

Eventually the wind started to fill in and we managed to round Peel Bank. As we rounded the cruising chute went up. Of course it was in the middle of both these manoeuvres that the squall and the rain hit us. The wind also veered which meant that the leg was much too close for a spinnaker and so no sooner was it up than it had to come down again. This involved much grunting and cursing but eventually it was bundled below and the final leg was sailed virtually close hauled.

We arrived back in the marina after dark, about 15 minutes after the pontoon party should have started but we soon found groups of people, drinking wine and beer and eating crisps and nuts, by the lightship. This was followed by more eating and drinking on board the Mary Mouse

We are now awaiting course handicapper John Clarkson to reboot his abacus to determine the winner.

Read Brian Humber's account of Ronhilda's day here