A difficult first day began with strong winds and a fierce outgoing tide facing the four yachts at the start of the Solent regatta. Ranger crossed the start line first, followed extremely closely by Velsheda and Lionheart, with Rainbow a few seconds behind. Lionheart and Rainbow crossed onto the North shore for the long beat into a strong 20 knot SW wind and building sea.
Ranger and Velsheda elected to work the Island shore, where the stronger outgoing tide was expected to work in their favour.
At the weather mark, now crowded with spectator boats from all around the Solent, Ranger rounded first, with Lionheart close behind, followed by Rainbow and Velsheda, who had slipped back. Ranger gybed and set onto a symmetrical kite whilst Lionheart split from her with a bearaway set onto an assymetric kite. Ranger then drew ahead, sailing the best angles into the foul tide with the symmetrical.
The gap between the yachts never opened up significantly. Ranger led 100 metres from the finish line and just squeezed across first, despite a very strong finish from Lionheart.
1st Ranger
2nd Lionheart
3rd Rainbow
4th Velsheda
J Class Association
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www.jclassyachts.com