JUNIOR OFFSHORE
GROUP
GROUP
Brief update on the Nab Race April 2014 and report Jeopardy 2
I have a bit of a dilemma here, race report or Captain’s report. This may be a half-way house!
2014 really has kicked off in style. On Saturday 67 JOG boats spread over 4 classes crossed the start line to compete in the Nab Tower race. Fortunately although the weather was not cloudless blue skies, the wind conditions were benign and the rain held off for the majority of the race. It was fantastic to see a lot of old hands out on the water, some in new boats and some of the familiar friends gracing the water and in some cases winning their respective classes.
Right from the off every boat, that I was able to see, appeared to be in full on race mode and any napping was rewarded with lost places. The reach the forts from the start was pure pleasure after which the harden up into a more sloppy sea gave the heavier boats a slight edge. Nab took a longer than usual to see in the murk because it is no longer a tower, more a stump, this being due to the works that have been carried out since it was previously hit by a ship.
Our dilemma on the return from the Nab was, to head out of the tide or go for speed in the tide, we opted for the latter and Xtosea who opted for the former pulled out a lead on us that we were unable to recover.
After rounding the forts a quick dive into Ryde sands got a number of boats out of the tide with a few briefly touching the bottom. As usual the winds off Norris Castle went light, challenging boats ability to keep moving on up to the wind band off the Medina after which it was a sprint for the line.
The designated watering holes on the South and the North Islands were busy with JOG crews, especially the King and Queen in Hamble, which was full to overflowing into the rain soaked garden. Those I managed to chat to appear to have thoroughly enjoyed the first race of the season and a large number are looking forward to racing to Cherbourg at Easter, where hopefully we will have sunshine as well as great racing.
Thank you to everyone who took part and to our race officers for making it all work for us and I hope to see as many of you as possible in Cherbourg.
Report from Gallant of Southampton, Sigma 38, Class 5.
The Nab Tower race 2014 was our first JOG race. As novices, our only previous yacht racing experience was in the Hamble Winter Series 2013. During this series of races, where bodies and pride were (often in equal amount) bruised, on only one occasion were we able to finish in front of another Sigma 38.
In preparation for the race around the Nab Tower, we were able to pull together five enthusiastic if inexperienced crew members. Our departure was delayed so we arrived at the starting line for identification shortly before the start. While we were able to make it to the start of the race, by the time we were ready to sail the race was already under way. By the time we had crossed the starting line under sail, the rest of the Class 5 fleet was about three minutes ahead. By careful tweaking of our elderly sails and tidal assistance we arrived at No Mans’ Land Fort in the company of Marta and other Class V boats. Of the Sigma 38s, Gulliver, Vitesse and Pandanova were ahead of us. On the route to the Nab we slowly stretched our lead on Marta while closing in on Gulliver ever so slightly. Not knowing precisely how close to the Nab Tower we could tack, we took the long route around. In contrast, Marta came in fast, tacked efficiently and neatly overtook us rounding the Nab Tower. On the reach back to No Man’s Land Fort we concentrated on sailing well under white sails while most of the other participants sailed under spinnaker. At No Man’s Land Fort we were close behind Vitesse, but whatever we did to squeeze a little more speed out of Gallant was countered as Vitesse slowly but inexorably pulled away from us. At Ryde Sand, seeing a fellow competitor run aground reminded us of the need to stay in deep enough water while avoiding the worst of the adverse tide. After Ryde, as a last resort to try to catch Vitesse, we took the most direct route in the forlorn hope that the tidal stream would not cancel out the reduced distance to be travelled.
Eventually we finished 10th out of 16 in Class V and third of six Sigma 38s. The race was a great experience and we look forward to the Cherbourg race.
Michael Fenlon
Report from Raffles, Elan 295, Class 6.
How nice to be on the water again!
Loads of time in hand with an easy trip over to Cowes to pick up Sally and Chris at the ISC jetty – we were early for a change. With so much time to prepare, a poor start could have been the result especially with 24 boats entered in class 6 but we found some space by Gurnard and were only a touch line shy as the gun went with slack tide.
Alchemist and Menace (see photo taken a bit later) made good starts near us 
slightly ahead and a bunch of others nearer to the shore were away well too. With a southerly we thought getting away from the island influence would be the right strategy so sailed low towards the channel north of Ryde bank with the usual debate about kite or no kite. We compromised when we found no other boats going the same way and considered the likely hardening-up later get to No Mans fort – in the end we probably sailed over some of the bank which may have been sub-optimal for tide which by now had gently kicked in but we may have had a better wind than those inshore.
Not hugely eventful going out to the Nab but more lively coming back. Pink Monster spinnaker (Matt has a vivid imagination) was on the rail ready for a quick hoist after rounding - up she went and off we went with some control issues trying to make the right course allowing for the easterly tide. Many thanks to Blazer for the shout that enabled our slightly late course alteration.
After a couple of broaches the spinny had to come down so we sailed under whites before popping up the cruisy asymmetric for the last couple of miles to the fort. We had planned on preparing lunch on the return leg anticipating a comfortable broad reach - chocolate bars were broken out instead.
We rounded the fort just behind Domaine and were in their company for most of the way back to Cowes – the adverse tide was not too much of an issue but as always dealing with the inconsistent wind near to the finish most certainly was. It was a great sight behind as the bigger boats steamed up on us – plenty to keep the finishing team on their toes!
A pint at ISC went down a treat – then a drenching, sailing back to Swanwick.
Many thanks to Peter and the team for starting/finishing us all, and of course for getting the results on the website so quickly.
Note to crew – rush those JOG membership forms in!
Peter Cover
Report from Shades of Blue, J110, Class 5.
Friday on the M25/M3 and kitchen builders didn't add too many delays to the Shades of Blue crew reunion at the Cowes Ale House, where we met up with some 'fresh blood' for this seasons adventures before reintroducing ourselves to the delights of the Cowes Tandoori followed by a relatively early night in a warm (!) and start of season tidy boat.
Saturday dawned with a glorious sunrise, sadly the only time we would see it before the drizzle of the day set in, and a rush to get the days hot cross bun supply on board before leaving for the start. After spending some time searching for the yellow mooring buoys in the murk, we received the usual welcoming wave from the start box and started the serious business of the day. The kettle went on, and the start time debate commenced. Once over the line, with class 6 disappearing off into the distance, we settled down into a white (black?) sail reach up towards where the GPS said the forts and then the Nab were. Not quite the spinnaker run the forecast had looked like earlier in the week but still good fun.
Rounding the Nab - I'm sure it used to be bigger - it finally looked as though we were going to get some kite action. With the usual bow crew having some kind of moving house / stag weekend excuse yours truly had been a bit slow in stepping back and ended up at the wet and pointy bit (it was me or the owner and he's not allowed past the mast). It's been a while, which was probably fairly obvious at times, but the knitting wasn't too complicated and the knots all held. However putting the light kite up when beating didn't do it much good and what turned out to be a much better hoist than it could have been turned into a pretty quick drop and collection of all the various parts and tapes, before going with the better plan of using a smaller one which we held until we decided it might be better to head to Cowes rather than Gilkicker. The drop was executed with little drama and we headed back up wind towards the rest of the fleet and the finish. The boats that had taken the island shore side weren't too far in front as we all converged at Snowden before heading down to the finish to keep Peter & co busy finishing all 66 of us in an hour. A good, if grey, day and an OK result (shame about the five seconds).
Thanks as usual to all the Committee and Race Officers and see you all in Cherbourg.
Pandie
Report from Two Frank, Impala 28, Class 6.
The race started very, very badly for us on the motor over when we had the bacon sandwiches in the oven but forgot to get gas so had to eat them cold. Our start was a bit interesting, with the tide flowing and 5-8 knots of wind we did not want to be too close and we were a little late giving the jump to Magic.
With some people electing for kite on the first leg and a host of Code 0’s being hoisted, we chose to go for the light No.1 and trim the backside out of the sails. With the whole crew moving weight and tweaking everything in sight, we sailed FRANK like a dinghy to catch up to Magic where we sat looking at her stern for 8 miles, inching closer then losing the gains.
At the forts the breeze had freshened to 15 knots so the heavy no.1 came out and the crew peeled, losing us some ground but saving the light no.1. We chose to play the tidal shift further towards the Nab and got it spot on. And watching a certain French female helm blowing out their Genoa!!
Magic decided to head for Brighton and Cheeky Monkey elected to come with us so it was a drag race to the Nab with the crew hiking hard. We arrived at the Nab ahead and decided to hoist. This is where it went a bit wrong!!!!!
As our mast woman hoisted she decided to throw herself over the guardrails and into the Solent. With other boats down the back of our necks we held course and two of the biggest crew dragged her out of the water and set the kite (she was o.k. and ended up wearing most of the crew's kit)
The reach back was a bit of kite up and down but we arrived at the forts at the same time as Magic (one design at its best); they stalled in the lee of the fort and we managed to coast around. There was a lot of shouting to larger boats about depth on the following leg with our depth reading between 0.1 and 0.2 for about 20 mins, we got out of the tide and made gains with the no.1 up.
There was a slight navigational error at Snowden (I missed it and had to gybe round, forgetting to tell the crew what we were doing)
After a tense 45 seconds at the finish it was a close finish between the Impalas and Frank 7th overall.
OllyWoke early to a damp and misty day. Big contrast to the sparkling “Try JOG” last weekend. We were without our usual navigator, so one of the crew took the job determined to make his mark he came armed with lots of goodies, smart phone, tablet, apps for this and that, and had our computer and nav. package as well.
Off to the start expecting to fly a kite, but the wind came round too far to the south, so our nice new headsail had another airing. We had started to work out how to set it with our lovely Try JOG crew last weekend, but now it was time, with the regulars, to get serious. Much concentration and fiddling by crew on deck, and lots of navigation advice from the man below. We held our place in the fleet as far as the forts, but then slipped back a bit, more fiddling, a hot drink all round and lots of advice to the helmsman from both above and below deck seemed to sort the problem. Round the Nab Stump, a bit closer than some dared, and up with the kite. There were times when we could have done with more weight on the rail. White sails at the forts, no sooner was the kite tamed below and back in its bag than there was a call to release it again. Back to white sails for the last bit, finishing amongst class 4 again.
Our thanks to the shore team for their efforts staring through the gloom, I hope they had some hot drinks on hand as well.
Frances
Report from JIBE, J 109, Class 4.
We always look forward to the Race to the Nab as a great season opener and has often been a happy hunting ground for JIBE in the past few seasons. With the customary early start from Lymington escorted by JUMBUCK, Robin guided us down to Cowes for the start whilst the rest of the crew breakfasted and power napped to be coiled springs ready for the 910 start.
With a decent southerly breeze and a good tide we set off with a great downhill start under our trusty pink kite. Many of our competitors in the J/109 and 105 fleet have been busy at the sailmakers this winter as a brace of code zero's broke out above us and made the most of the early going into Osbourne bay when the breeze headed and we all returned to whites. JUST SO and Mostly Harmless making the best of the early running and stretching a short lead, J'TAIME hitting a spot of bother to windward and NKOTB Jybe Talkin bringing up the rear of the 109 pack.
The drag race ensued through the forts and out to the Nab, where the tricky decision of how close to the tower to tack and whether to go high before hoisting or hit the rhumb line was made. We set early and trimmed up hard with Andy our grinder's motivational chat to 'beast' him spurring us on as we eased out a lead on the other 109's and 105's for the return leg. It all looked good back at the forts and by Ryde sands. again the zero's proved their worth as many began to close the gap, including a valiant charge by Wild Spirit in Class 5!
By Cowes it was all nip and tuck at the front with handicap sheet and stopwatches at the ready keeping a close eye on Harmless and Juliette. After a very close finish JULIETTE had done just enough to clinch it by 5 seconds. so, sadly we gave up the top step on the Class 4 podium for the Nab this year although our congratulations to the double handed crew on Juliette for a great race and entertaining finish.
Thanks to Peter and his race team for another great Nab Tower race.
Chris