 This year a new twist has been added to the Round the Island Race by the removal of the No Man’s Land Fort as a mark of the course. Graham Sunderland and Mike Broughton look at the strategic options and also give a short guide to the key sections of the race
The removal of No Mans Land Fort from the course of the Round the Island Race adds a whole new dimension to this annual race around the Isle of Wight (18 June). Competitors can now exploit the area inside the fort in an effort to find a tidal gain but all need to be aware of the dangers of Ryde Sands. So calibrate your echo sounder or pack a bucket and spade.
In addition, recent important changes to navigation aids from Seaview to Ryde include:
1) The removal of the submerged barrier that used to run 229°M from No Mans Land Fort. This is now marked on the chart as 'Foul Ground least depth 2 metres'
2) The reposition of Ryde Sands East Post, now a light beacon
3) The mining ground buoys removed – see Admiralty Notice 2170, 4904 & 1959 (www.ukho.gov.uk)
Navigation
From Bembridge Ledge there are three options:
1) Round No Mans Land Fort
2) Round both Ryde Sands Posts
3) Direct over Ryde Sands
Route 1 Several competing Open 60s with their 4m draught simply have no choice but to go round the fort, but still need to watch out for the bank 0.5nm to the SE.
Route 2 The majority will take option 2, although you must be aware of the shallow ground south-east on approach to the new Light Beacon (first post you come to). At this point you should also see the Seaview Yacht Club start line post inshore which normally it has a wind sock on it.
 Next is the biggest potential for trouble, The Gotcha! (see diagram). After Ryde Sands Light Beacon you may be tempted to head for Ryde Pier; however, you can clearly see from the aerial low-water picture that this is a bad choice.
After leaving Ryde Sands Post to port, it’s very important NOT to sail the straight line to Cowes as you still have to negotiate the shallow main northern arm of Ryde Sands. Significantly the SW Mining Ground Buoy, which previously marked the edge of the bank, has been removed. There is a sharp depth change off the northern side of the bank so do not to rely on your echo sounder alone.
Route 3 Unlikely to suit anyone who arrives before 1600 – good use for your harmonic table. The big question here is, if it’s a slow race, you may find just enough depth to go over. When surveying with a RIB through the inshore route with HW height of 4.0 we had 3.6m most of the way from Seaview to Ryde. However, it dropped to 0.9m off Ryde Harbour.
Route 2.5 There is a possible route south of Ryde Sands East Post Light Beacon directly to Ryde Sands Post. PC chart plotting will come into its own for this race. Alternatively, if your class rules allow, use a handheld GPS with chart attached like the Garmin Map 76C or 60C to accurately pick your way through the contours.
Tide flow
We surveyed Bembridge and Seaview last October finding some very interesting tide flow – notably, HW –3.5 and –3 (see tidal diagrams). Flow runs hard by No Mans Land Fort and Bembridge Ledge while it’s always fairly soft towards Bembridge Harbour. Last opportunity to make big gains if you can avoid adverse tide flow around Ryde Sands so it’s recommended to plan carefully and monitor by observing marks and pots.
Tactical
By this part of the race everyone will be tired from sailing all day. However, this leg needs a great deal of concentration – with the wind typically less and chop notably higher, changing gear with sail trim becomes vital as well as support for your very nervous navigator.
Committing to a route early will save time and follow your tidal plan. The new bottleneck is now Ryde Sands Post – don't be tempted to go inside, the seagulls stand there at low water!
Almost home, one more hurldle is the ‘Norris Nadgers’. Prevailing south-west winds funnel out of the Medina and curve around the headland (with a small amount of acceleration). However, a large wind shadow is generated in Osborne Bay, downwind of the high ground, giving much lighter winds.
The area to be avoided extends further offshore in light winds, with the additional friction caused by the large trees in the woods on the shores of Osborne Bay. Even in an easterly wind, the area should still be avoided, as the wind ‘detaches’ off the surface to get over the high ground around Osborne House.
Chart recommendations
Admiralty SC 2036. This gives you detailed soundings. Resolution is 1:25000 (SC is leisure folded, wet strength charts)
After our survey we concluded that The Island Sailing Club may want to consider making both Ryde Sands Posts marks of the course for 2006. This will satisfy the reduction in pleasure craft through the shipping channel and also keep everyone away from the tricky Ryde Sands.
RYS Line to the Needles
For an overall strategy, initially aim for Sconce buoy where you can make the most of the ‘tidal slingshot’ just to the west of Yarmouth. Then continue in the fast-moving current towards Hurst Castle. If you are beating into south-westerly winds, work the area of best current close to the Shingles, prior to peeling off and aiming for the Needles.
Start line geometry – The start line is 1.2nm long (from the Royal Yacht Squadron to West Bramble). In simple geometry terms, the shortest distance to Sconce is the perpendicular (rhumb line) to the buoy, just a quarter of the distance up the line from the RYS. Starting close to West Bramble is 200m further than at the perpendicular point.
If the wind direction is to right of the axis of the western Solent, then the north shore is often a winning place to be. With a simple GPS, consider making each end of the line a waypoint/route and you can read off your distance to the line (when it is difficult to gauge due to the sheer number of boats) prior to the start, as cross track error.
Tidal stream – The area of strongest tidal stream is 300m north of the Cowes Green. Look in particular for ‘Micky’s Tidal River’. On the ebb, this is a local ‘river of water’ that looks brown and flows between 0.8 and 1.4 knots faster than the rest of the ebb. It runs west, just north of Gurnard buoy, prior to swinging over towards West Lepe Buoy and then swinging back towards Yarmouth and merging with the strong tide off Sconce.
 Winds bends and shadows – The river valleys in the western part of the Isle of Wight have a marked effect on the wind in the western Solent. With a wind left of 250°, the valleys such as the Newton River (see diagram) create relatively large ‘left-handers’ over a local area, as the wind funnels out of the estuary and then fans out, creating significant gains on port tack. In east/west winds, there is a wind bend around Egypt Point as well as an area of lighter winds close into Gurnard Bay. In an easterly wind, this is created by the hill directly inland, while in westerly winds, it is created by the wind ‘detaching’ from the surface to get over that same hill.
The Needles – The tightest ‘hairpin bend’ of the course. Make sure the team is briefed early, so that the afterguard can concentrate on the pilotage, steering and other boats. There always seems to be a wind change here and you are about to turn a ‘blind corner’. Check out the wind for the next leg through the gaps in the Needles as you head for the lighthouse.
Varvassi, inside or outside? – Several boats get badly damaged on the remains of the wreck each year. If in doubt, go outside and don’t change your plan halfway through. The recommended technique for the inner passage is to identify Goose Rock (usually by the breaking water) and leave it about 10 – 15m close to port.
Tidal strategy – Having made the most of the fair tide to the Needles, you now probably have the ebb stream against you. Generally speaking, going inshore will bring considerably less foul current, however you need to be conversant with the various ledges and rocks close to the shore. There are two significant rock ledges that need to be taken seriously when working close to the shore to pick up the tidal advantages. Brook Ledges are a series of parallel rocks running out to sea awash at chart datum. Be very cautious, as these rocks protrude vertically in relation to the surrounding seabed.
Atherfield Ledge – Probably creates the greatest menace for yachts along the south-west of the Island. Sticking out between Brighstone Bay and Chale Bay, each year these rocks get a bashing on RTI Race Day.
The Great Chale Bay eddy – This is the place to aim for. Here the stream runs south-east for 8 out of 12 hours and can give you one knot of positive current, while those a third of a mile out to sea can be in two knots of foul tide, as well as being caught on the outside of a large wind bend. One word of caution, watch out for wind shadows caused by the high cliffs around Blackgang Chine.
St Catherine’s Point – If you are lucky enough to get here in favourable tide, aim for about 600m offshore, where the tide is very strong, though often kicks up a nasty sea. More likely you will be cheating the tidal stream along the south side of the island.
Cheating the tide – Here is a large tidal stream differential, in terms of strength, between 50m from the shore and a quarter of a mile out and is usually worth the effort of routeing as close as possible without hitting the ‘bricks’. Keep a sharp eye out for lobster pots. If there is a lot of traffic here, consider leaving the trimmer to leeward, as collisions often happen in this area. One final point, as you approach the shore, start looking for a ‘clear lane’ out, to maintain ‘clear air’ well before you have to tack.
Church Rocks – Watch out for the infamous Church Rocks just to the east of Ventnor Pier. There are actually two sets of rocks here, Wheelers Bay rocks just south of the church with a spire at Bonchurch, with the highest being Cat Rock and Church Rocks themselves half a mile east of the pier. A decent clearing bearing is 255° M on the end of Ventnor Pier.
Sandown Bay, in or out? – If in doubt, go out! Unless you can make it directly to Bembridge, my strong advice is to avoid the bay, due to the lighter winds. The high ground on each side of the Bay, Nansen Hill at Dunnose (221m) on the south side and Culver Cliff with its ‘day mark’ on top at the north end do a good job in reducing the wind in the bay itself.
Also westerly winds are slowed by the friction of the land and hills, prior to making it over the town of Shanklin. In light winds, after clearing Dunnose, those boats that go offshore and find the new sea breeze have made big gains.
Wind shadow – In winds from the west or south-west, beware going too close to Bembridge Ledge. The wind shadow from Culver Cliff (below) is significant, even in strong gradient winds. By just tracking a little further out to sea, there are big gains to be made when the wind is from the west. In easterly winds, the area can also experience light patches as the wind detaches from the sea to make it over the top of Culver Cliff.
For more information on the Round the Island Race visit www.roundtheisland.org.uk
Reprinted from Yachting World July 2005
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