SATURDAY, August 1 will see a return to competitive sailing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with Race the Wight.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) event, in aid of the NHS and the Scaramouche Sailing Trust, is a race around the Isle of Wight.
The race will replace the originally scheduled Channel Race and is open to Covid-19 compliant crews, following government regulations in both the two-handed and family or same-household classes.
Race entries are required to have an IRC TCC of 0.900 and above.
Entries and registration can be made through RORC Sailgate: www://rorc.sailgate.com/
RORC racing manager, Chris Stone, said: "It's been extremely difficult to know what changes to racing will allow us to go back to our original programme — taking into consideration the current regulations and social distancing measures, plus the need to protect the integrity of the season point score.
"It's our belief the Channel Race may be a little too early to allow fully-crewed racing and would potentially be difficult, with regulations not permitting overnight racing.
"We therefore think a race around the Isle of Wight, for those who can, is a great compromise, as crews can enjoy a distance race, with an offshore element, while still remaining close to The Solent."
Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the 50-nautical mile race will stick to the latest government guidelines and advice from the RYA and World Sailing.
The safety of all competitors, staff and volunteers are of primary concern as the RORC continues to monitor the coronavirus outbreak carefully.
The fleet will race anti-clockwise, heading west towards Yarmouth, leaving The Solent and rounding the famous Needles lighthouse, before making their way along south-west coast of the Island to St Catherine's Point, before crossing Sandown Bay to round the Bembridge Ledge.
The fleet will then make its way either side of No Man's Land Fort and across Osborne Bay to the finish line at Cowes.
RORC member, Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard, raced around the course in 3h 43m and regular RORC racer, Ned Collier Wakefield, took just 2hrs 22mins on the MOD70 Concise 10 — just short of Brian Thompson's ratified World Sailing Speed Racing Council record of 2.02.31 in Phaedo3 in Sept 2016.
Although these records show the potential speeds possible from these impressive racing vessels, the course can take anything up to 12 hours for some of the smaller entries.
All competitors will register their own finish times after crossing the line and submit them for the final results.
"It should be a very nice day of racing for those two-handed teams who can follow the guidelines — and those sailing families or households who can do the same," Chris adds.
"Sadly, the timing of the tides doesn't allow us to include the smaller entries, but we think we can give most people a start and their first longer race since lockdown.
"Staff and volunteers are really looking forward to Race the Wight as well. I think it's good for everyone.
"We have some nice Musto prizes for the class winners and for our overall winner, and with entry fees going to the Scaramouche Sailing Trust and the NHS, we couldn't be happier about the whole event.
"It's a great way to re-start the season."
For further information, please contact the RORC race team by email to racing@rorc.org,
by phone 295144 or through the website www.rorc.org
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