Round the Island Race at Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club

2013 IOS Round the Island Race © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Ducking the bridge during the 2013 IOS Round the Island Race © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

The Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club held their annual Round the Island Race on 7th September 2013. The race is a long established, this being the 55th year it has been held. Sailed clockwise around the island, starting and finishing at IOS Sailing Club, the race is a long distance event designed to test the sailing skills and endurance over a 40-mile course, including tidal sea, river & estuary sailing. The event is also the longest dinghy and board race in Europe, and should not be confused with some 24 hour races, which allow for a change of helm and crew. The event was also the YachtsandYaching.com #GetOutAndSail event winner for September.

Many classes used the race as part of their annual series, the Osprey & Dart 18 classes being most prominent; by the time the final start was away at 12:00 the wind had increased to a force 5 gusting 6 which proved to much for some competitors and made the six mile close reach/beat very tiring as it was all on one tack.

Once at the eastern end of the island the wind did not relent and the split of the Thames Estuary and the Swale made for an horrendous chop. Waves broke every few seconds just as the gusts hit and made for very slow progress. Many described the sail round as "grueling", but once in the flat waters between the island and main land made for some spectacular speeds in strong winds and very flat water.

As the fleet passed through Queenborough, (which saw the Clipper Round the World yachts moor just a week before), all that was left was the tricky Garrison Point and the home straight. Passing through the line and getting the hooter was a relief. The race was challenging, enduring and highly rewarding, a real tick in the box of life!

Dan Norman & Mel Rogers win the 2013 IOS Round the Island Race - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

98 competitors entered and 84 completed the course, including 3 paddle-boarders who set off at 7am! Honours this year went to Dart 18 World Champion Dan Norman, an IOSSC member, who finished first on PY with a very creditable elapsed time of 2:10:35. Special mention should be made of 13 year old Joe Baker, who won the prize for first under-16 helm, and finished 5th overall on PY in a Dart 18 with dad Roger as crew.

More photos available on the Champion Marine Photography website.

Nicholas Willis wins the Wildwind Sailing Holiday during the 2013 IOS Round the Island Race, provided by #GetOutAndSail partner Wildwind - photo © Tim Harris

October is the final month for #GetOutAndSail in 2013 and nominations are wide open. Remember #GetOutAndSail is real funding for your event; £500 in cash and around £1000 worth of prizes from the #GetOutAndSail partners.

Nominate your event here.

Many thanks to our supporters!

A huge thank-you to our ten #GetOutAndSail partners; Crewsaver, Gul, Harken, International Paint, Navigators & General, Noble Marine, Ovington Boats, Rooster Sailing, Seldén Masts and Wildwind. Without them this initiative simply wouldn't be possible. It is their belief in #GetOutAndSail which will drive it forward and hopefully get more people out on the water.

IOS Round the Island Race 2013 Results:

www.iossc.org.uk/islandrace

2013 IOS Round the Island Race - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

An Alto's view on the Round the Isle of Sheppey Race (by Jo Wicken)

Two Altos - 117 Chris Ashby/Ian Parris and 119 Tim Kift/Jo Wicken - entered the 55th Round the Isle of Sheppey Race on 7th September. The forecast was for a steady 18 mph, S-SW. Monohulls with PYs under 1030 took the third start at 11.30 a.m. and for the first 20 minutes enjoyed a fast kite reach down the Thames Estuary. With more south than south-west in the wind it was down with the spinnaker and a two-sail reach to the end of the island. There was so much spray from the waves and later both helms reported that they hadn't been able to see a thing all the way down!

The comforting thought was that the conditions would flatten out once into the Swale. Er...no! Instead huge waves rolled out of the river, far worse than those along the Estuary. Picking the right moment to tack was the difference between surviving and capsizing. This continued well into the river as far as Harty Ferry. Sailors who dared take the inshore channel made good distance over those who, having positioned themselves south of the Horse Sands, had to continue in the main channel.

There after it was back to fast two-sail reaching. 119, having trouble spotting the channel markers, took a more northerly course. Luckily it was almost high water so there was sufficient depth to get away with it, and when the correct headland, rather than the bay, was located, there was just enough angle to be able to sail close-hauled and avoid having to tack back for the proper channel.

As the river bent northwards, there was an opportunity for the kite again, towards the Kingsferry Bridge. As required by the race rules, everyone had to take their turn, capsize their boat and walk it under the outer span of the bridge, with a bit of help from the Sheppey team. Then back up with the kite, a wave to friends spectating from their anchored yacht, a shriek as a gust hit, and Alto 119 shot off towards the bank with the kite in control! Not the place to go and capsize, and again fortune smiled on the crew who continued on their way.

Then there was the small matter a couple of miles further on of the helm dropping the tiller. 119 slewed off to leeward, but a dive from the crew, and the forgiving design of the boat, prevented what might have seemed inevitable. Approaching Garrison Point the priority was to keep out of the tide and make the most of the Alto's special feature- the swinging pole. It was possible to kite it almost completely downwind with a couple of gybes towards the jetties to keep on track.

Then once past Garrison Point it was a fast blast to the finish. 119 held the kite as long as possible before one final two-sail reach to the line. And then seconds before the finish gun, a massive hole almost tipped the boat in to windward. How much luck can one use in one day? The Alto popped back up again and the finishing hooter sounded. Exhausted! Three hours and 30 seconds of racing.

Overall the Altos finished 10th (Tim Kift/Jo Wicken) and 19th (Chris Ashby/Ian Parris) in what was a demanding but very exhilarating race. Thank you to all the team at the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club and to the event sponsors for a great event.