Guingand Bowl 2013

It will make a change this friday afternoon to be heading off for an offshore race, rather than sitting in the office waiting for the weekend to start. I will be heading off for a 110 mile race to Guernsey on OC 21, a Figaro II, sailing double handed with Sam Matson. 

Testing out my new drysuit in the office- known to have a leaky ceiling! 

85 yachts have entered the De Guingand Bowl Race, including 12 yachts that will be racing in the Two-Handed Class- including two other Figaros. 

Our course takes us west out of the Solent, across The Channel towards Guernsey. On the way we will have to avoid the Traffic Separation Scheme (to the north west of Alderney) and leave Les Casquets and Hanois, a group of rocks which form part of an underwater sandstone ridge, to port.

The suggested route from the Solent to Guernsey 

We will sail past the islets of Burhou, which emerge above the water forming a small island North west of Alderney. There are no permament residents there, but it is a bird sanctuary, so perhaps we may at least see some wildlife!

Luckily with the finish off the corner of Castle Cornet, which guarded the entrance to St. Peter Port for over 900 years, we will avoid the Alderney Race; where more often than not, the tidal streams decide your destination- the streams divide around Alderney, meaning that if you are going to approach the channel Islands through the race, you have to get the timing right to avoid being swept into the Swinge-   a dangerous channel between Burhou and its neighbouring rocks. Instead we will be navigating the rugged southern shore line of Guernsey, avoiding the off lying rocks.

The Swinge Channel & Burhou

The routing currently has us arriving at the finish line at 11am on Saturday morning, in time for a quick lunch at Guernsey Yacht Club, before heading off back home again. I have never been to the Channel Islands before, which are self governing with their own laws, and not part of the UK or EU.

With regard to the weather, it is not looking great for the Figaro's rating; an upwind slog to Guernsey for the majority of the way in at least 15 knots, and could be more like 25 knots + later into the night as the cold front comes through. Sailing upwind through the night, I'm glad we've packed a mix of wet and freeze dried meals to eat; mainly 'beef with cassava' and 'chicken with pasta'. I am looking forward to the chocolate muesli breakfasts most of all, but will be have to patient while the muesli soaks up all the water. Previously I've got to peckish and tucked in too soon to a soggy mess, yuck! 
Finally with rain forecast for saturday, I will most defiantly be wearing my new drysuit, with thanks to Musto and the Academy. It's an essential bit of kit for Mini sailing but will come in darn handy on the Figaro too!

Midnight, we will be somewhere in the Channel

Testing out the drysuit in the office- known to have a leaky ceiling! 

Finally with rain forecast for saturday, I will most defiantly be wearing my new drysuit, with thanks to Musto and the Academy. It's an essential bit of kit for Mini sailing but will come in darn handy on the Figaro too!

There should be opportunity to pop the big kite towards the finish