RN win the Services Offshore Regatta

RN win the Services Offshore Regatta

The second week of June saw the coming together of both novice and experienced yachtsmen from across all three services for the Services Offshore Regatta (SOR). This year the focus was on Offshore Racing with a race from the Solent to St Helier, St Helier to St Peter Port and Guernsey to the Solent

The IRC yachts headed out of the Solent with the three team boats choosing to go around Bembridge Ledge and the private entry RAVEN heading to the Needles. All of these yachts got sluiced towards Jersey at night with 7 knots of advantageous tide in the Alderney race. Unfortunately the Victoria 34s didn’t make it to the race on time and the tide prevented them from making progress for six hours not helped by the wind dying off so they arrived in a fairly exhausted state on Tuesday evening. It was sensibly decided to cancel the inshore racing. A closely fought race from Jersey to Guernsey was started at noon on the Wednesday in overcast conditions but with good wind. On the Thursday the forecast proved to be correct with strong winds on the beam. The Race Officer sent the yachts around Sark to deconflict any bunching in the Little Russell and after an initial white sail reach in big seas once to the East of Sark the asymmetric spinnakers on the IRC yachts were hoisted and the sleigh ride began. Just North of the Alderney race the sun came out and with 25 knots of average breeze the conditions were champagne for a quick passage. The fastest was the J111 British Soldier with speeds up to 24 knots off the waves. It became a day race with all yachts tucked up in the marina by the early hours and the IRC yachts finishing in daylight.

The results were interesting with three IRC yachts (the chartered J109 MERMAID V sailed by the RN team, Mike Broughton’s RAVEN and the J109 RED ARROW) tying for first place on 7 points. On count back the RORC bowl went to RED ARROW. In the Victoria 34 class the Victoria Marine Trophy went to TROCHUS sailed by the Army, Cdr Bruce Martin in VOLUTA took second place gaining the Bachelors’ Bailer and the RAF were given glassware for third. With a good performance by the other RN yacht SYRINX the RN were declared the overall winners gaining the prestigious Madden Bowl. AVM Mark Green presented the trophies aided by our sponsor Alan (ISS) at the Hornet Services Sailing Club.

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