Cowes Week 2026 - Mon 3rd - Day 3

Today was much the same as yesterday in terms of tide at the Royal Yacht Squadron start line and wind at force 4 Easterly in direction. 

Our start was much better today and we were in touch with the main fleet  for a good portion of the race.  We made a small tactical error but nothing that other boats may not have made.   The main problem being the sharp choppy wave on the Solent today.  It meant that as we went over a wave, we went down, we hit the next stopping us dead in the water.  This affects the wind speed over the sails, which means no pressure, which means no speed.

Our downwind hoist and drop of the spinnaker were excellent and we are proud of the advancements we have made so far this week.

The main moan I have is with the race committee.  They have a class of 31 boats which are all handicapped in such a way that I will never be able to win a race.  Not only that, in our class, some of the boats are up to 10 feet longer than us with the accompanying mast height and sail area.  This makes them faster and allows them to get to the top mark prior to the tide turning against them.  We are not so quick and so hit the tide and get stuck in light winds and loose out so much.  Very disparaging  Knowing that as hard as you try, you will never beat a fully crewed Sigma 33, a Contessa 33 or a Dufour 36 with full laminate racing sails.  The clue is in the face that the winning boat took 2 hours 11 mins and we went round in 3 hours 18 mins !!

It would be fine if they gave us a coarse that we could compete in but sadly, they favour the fast boats and write a coarse for them, even if they should be in a faster class, bloody glory hunters…..bah humbug.

Thought For Day - Don’t look in front as to see who is winning, look behind to see who your beating.

20 miles sailed in 3 hours 18 minutes and 23 seconds.