SOLENT RACING Types of racing Many people think of the Solent as mainly suitable for day racing keelboats and cruiser-racers rather than dinghy racing. In fact, there is SOLENT RACINGplenty of opportunity for dinghy racing despite the tidal rates in much of the area, which are not ideal for small boat racing. Dinghies The most popular area for dinghy racing is just outside the Solent, at Hayling Island Sailing Club. Tidal conditions in Hayling Bay are easier than in the Solent and traffic near the racing areas is considerably less. Within the Solent, however, there is still plenty of dinghy racing. Just west of Cowes is Gurnard Sailing Club which is the main dinghy club on the Isle of Wight. Elsewhere, there is dinghy racing out of clubs in Lymington and Yarmouth, the Hamble River, Southampton Water, the area between Hill Head and Stokes Bay, which has three dinghy clubs in close proximity, and at Wootton on the Isle of Wight. Small keelboats The small keelboat classes are, for many people, the heart of Solent racing. Classes which race most weekends throughout the season include the classic Daring class, Dragons, Etchells, Flying Fifteens, Sonars and X One Designs. All these fleets have class starts in Cowes Week with the XoDs, J70s and the RS Elites being the largest classes in the week. Cruising racing and big boat racing If you’re into yacht racing there really is plenty of choice with most Solent yacht clubs running their own evening race series plus summer weekend race series. Then there is the racing run by JOG and RORC. JOG - the Junior Offshore Group - runs both an inshore and offshore series for yachts racing under IRC with both series proving very popular. RORC - the Royal Ocean Racing Club - organises a series of offshore races from Cowes, which count towards the season’s championship. For those who prefer yacht racing on windward-leeward courses, there are ample opportunities for that too. And, if you prefer racing classic yachts even that is catered for, with The Metre & Classic Keelboat Regatta and British Classic Week. Paul Wyeth 14 solenthandbook.com