NEW RETIREMENT APARTMENTS FOR SALE SOLENT RACING SOLENT RACING Paul Wyeth Fewer worries and A few people claim to dislike racing in the Solent, because it’s such a tricky place. It’s true that it has strong tides, complex wind more time for you and patterns, lots of leisure and commercial traffic, choppy water, and ever-changing conditions - but, for many sailors, it’s the your loed ones complexity that makes Solent racing such a rewarding challenge. Windward-leeward courses set in areas of no tide and with steady Retirement Living may not be for you winds may create a ‘fairer’ race course but they can become right now, but perhaps you have a friend repetitive and limited in their challenge. Boat speed and tactics are or family member who would enjoy highlighted but strategy, navigation, and boat handling get much more a low maintenance, safe, secure, and of a test around Solent courses. The ideal, of course, is to enjoy and independent lifestyle? learn from both. Fortunately, the Solent offers plenty of locations that allow a variety With developments all over the country, of courses, even windward-leeward courses in areas that enjoy some we have something for everyone. tidal shelter. Consequently, this wonderful, sheltered area is home to a rich mixture of events, including racing for dinghies, small keelboats, cruiser-racers, and handicap and level-racing for larger racing yachts. Most racing from Cowes for example, and there is a huge amount of it in all types of boats, takes place in the central Solent but courses can also be set in the eastern and western Solent, depending on conditions. The Hill Head Plateau, just to the east of the Brambles Bank, is a favourite place for race officers to set windward-leeward courses as it benefits from shallow water for easy mark laying and the tidal shadow of the bank to its west. Sometimes, though, race officers forget that there are other areas ­e€ Lodge‚ S„itfi re Lodge‚ in the central Solent that can be even better for windward-leeward Par€ ƒate Portswood courses in some combinations of wind and tide. The area inshore Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm and to the northwest of the Thorn channel, and the area to the east of Osborne Bay under the Isle of Wight shore, can both be good alternatives, as can close under the mainland shore, inshore of the Call us to register north channel around the Brambles. your interest In this section of the Solent Handbook you’ll find some general information on Solent racing, including types of courses, how racing is 0800 077 4594 organised, getting involved, finding crew, and preparing for racing. crl.co.uk For more information ask at your local club and check solenthandbook.com. Receive a £ MS gift ard when you visit, it’s that simple! 12 solenthandbook.com *T&Cs Apply. Visit churchillretirement.co.uk/terms-and-conditions