Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Solent Forts Race at Hayling Ferry Sailing Club

by Richard Golden 16 Jul 2015 11:43 PDT 14 July 2015

The Solent Forts Race is a long distance catamaran event set in the eastern Solent, featuring a multi-leg format with boats returning to a gate to complete each leg. The course is set on the day according to conditions and may include legs to the Nab Tower, West Pole (Chichester Bar), No Mans Land Fort, Spitbank Fort and others.

The event is run by Hayling Ferry Sailing Club and has established a loyal following since it was first run in 2012, and this year's event took place on 14th June. Whilst some teams apparently come for the party on the Saturday night the event attracts some of the UK's top multihull sailors.

The fleet had a good breeze on the first leg out to the Nab Tower (the longest leg - a distance of about 8 miles). Flying Phantom GBR0 (Orpin/Crawford) soon left the rest of the fleet behind, steering a course far deeper than the non-foiling boats and was first around the Nab Tower followed by Tornado 403 (Arnison/Hoyle) and Nacra Infusion GBR1577 (Neal/Fry).

On the way back upwind the breeze started to die and by the time the majority of the fleet reached Langstone Harbour entrance the combination of northerly tide and northerly wind made it impossible to reach the turning mark and the fleet spent a fruitless 40 minutes beating against the tide.

Before long they were joined by the Flying Phantom which had just completed the second leg out to West Pole (having rounded the turning mark and got through the gate in better wind and tide conditions).

Eventually the wind increased sufficiently for 4 boats to round the mark and get through the gate, but the remainder retired and the race was shorted to just one leg.

Next year's Solent Forts Race will be on 12th June.

The four boats that finished were:

1st GBR 0, Flying Phantom, Toby Orpin/Lewis Crawford
2nd GBR 239, Viper, Nick Barnes/Neil Baldry
3rd GBR 1577, Nacra Infusion, Tim Neal/Bob Fry
4th GBR 1421, Nacra Infusion, Richard Golden/Charles Howting

Related Articles

Cure 55 world premiere at SCIBS
Meet the team and discover firsthand what makes this such a standout model Join us at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, 22–25 May, for the world premiere of the Cure 55. Step aboard, meet the team, and discover firsthand what makes this such a standout model. Posted on 15 May
Cure 55 infused with ATL's KINETIX R118
Cure Marine uses KINETIX R118 Infusion Epoxy and Custom formulated laminating epoxies and adhesives Just months after its launch, the Cure 55 has earned global recognition as a hot contender for the Multihull of the Year Award in the Performance Cruising category by Multihulls World/Multicoques Magazine. Posted on 6 May
The Yacht Sales Co. set for success at 2025 SCIBS
Anticipating strong crowds at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show The Yacht Sales Co. is anticipating strong crowds at its display at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show from 22 - 25 May 2025, where it will showcase an expansive collection of the world's finest sail and power yachts. Posted on 6 May
Explore The Remarkable Cure 55
Join Cure Marine co-founder Dave Biggar for an exclusive walkthrough Since her launch, the Cure 55 has been turning heads and earning widespread praise. Sailors have been impressed by her balanced feel, sharp responsiveness, and exhilarating performance - reaching over 21 knots SOG in just 17 knots of breeze. Posted on 3 May
First images of the Excess 13
Designed for sailing, crafted for cruising The Excess concept corresponds to a certain idea of sailing: exalted, free, daring. The Excess 13 takes this idea a step further. Posted on 29 Apr
A bright future for International Multihull Show
The event brought together all the key players in the sector Record-breaking, landmark, unprecedented - there are plenty of words to sum up the 16th edition of the International Multihull Show, which has established itself as a benchmark event in the marine industry. Posted on 28 Apr
Smarter at the Dock, Safer at Sea
How Upgrades Are Changing Cruising The service being offered by yacht manufacturers leaps forward every year - responding to a market which demands the highest quality in every aspect. Posted on 25 Apr
Leopard Catamarans unveils Leopard 46
This innovative sailing catamaran marks a bold advancement in design, technology, and comfort Leopard Catamarans, a world-renowned leader in sailing and power catamarans, is excited to introduce its latest model: the Leopard 46. Posted on 25 Apr
ePropulsion & Heysea Yachts unveil the Seaview 59
A new era in electric-powered catamarans ePropulsion, a global leader in marine electric propulsion system and services, has once again partnered with Heysea Yachts to introduce the new Seaview 59 catamaran. Posted on 25 Apr
VETUS shares updates from SV Delos
YouTube stars Brian and Karin Trautman and their exciting catamaran build VETUS, the leading developer of onboard boat systems, is delighted to share the latest developments from the acclaimed YouTube stars, Brian and Karin Trautman of SV Delos, as they continue work on their ambitious project to build Delos 2.0. Posted on 24 Apr
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOMSwitch One DesignAllen Dynamic 40 Footer