Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise TOP

IRCRecords fall on the Solent

by Mark Angell 25 Mar 2023 10:06 PDT 24 March 2023
IRCRecords: Kestrel set a new doublehanded Nab Tower record © John Green

With a favourable, albeit very gusty SW wind and big tides in the Solent, three Jeanneau Sun Fast boats challenged the IRCRecords™ Nab Tower Course, each having a frothing Friday sail.

The previous record holders on the course were 'Redshift' Farr GP42 holding the fully crewed time at: 04h 05m 36s and the double handed record held by The Greig City Academy's 'Riot' an Intro 22 with a time to beat of 04h 55m 29s.

First to cross the start line at the Royal Yacht Squadron was the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 'Tigris' helmed by owner Gavin Howe with a full crew, setting an asymmetric with a deep first reef in the mainsail flying off to the East.

30 minutes later the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 Orbit helmed by Dan Fellows with a family crew onboard set their distinct red A-sail. The third boat, starting an hour later 'Kestrel' also a Sun Fast 3300 had a different set up - sailing double handed Kestrel's co-skippers Simon Bamford and Jerome Carson set a Fractional Code 0 [FR0] with a Staysail and Reefed Mainsail. They crossed the line in a particularly strong gust with 19kts of boat speed.

All three boats enjoyed a fast downwind ride in flat water, carrying the last of the flood tide to the Forts in the Eastern Solent. Each boat sat at hight teens of boat speed with one team even setting a new boat PB. The short leg out to the Nab Tower, was followed by a long slog on port tack into the breeze, back to the West.

The first two boats, Tigris and Orbit didn't fully benefit from favourable tide on the return west however a flatter sea state delivered a slightly more manageable leg back to the Squadron Line. Kestrel with the later start returned West in stronger wind and current leading to a bumpier ride, gusts topped out at 40kts, against their 3 knots of favourable tide.

Tigress crossed the line at 12:31:02 completing the course in 03h 24m 42s lowering the Fully Crewed record - 40mins off the previous record set by the Ed Fishwick's 'Redshift' team. Orbit finished at 12:52:39 with a great corrected time of 03h 35m 48s which would have been a record had the time not been lowered by Tigris some 20 mins earlier. Clearly picking the right start time is everything in record setting.

The Double Handed team onboard Kestrel crossed the line at 13:56:54 delivering a corrected time of 03h 33m 18s knocking over an hour off the previous time set by the Greig City Academy's 'Riot'

Tigris crew member Maggie Adamson commented "Amazing day on the water!! The racing today was cancelled because of too much wind so we decided to go out and try to beat the IRCRecord for the Nab Tower course. It was an absolute blast with a great crew onboard."

To see the records head to: ircrecords.com/recordinfo/nab-tower

To see available courses or to apply to have your course ratified head to: IRCRecords.com

Related Articles

America's Cup: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary
May 13, 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the winning of the America's Cup by Team New Zealand May 13, 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the winning of the America's Cup by Team New Zealand in San Diego, on May 13, 1995. Noted international journalist Barry Pickthall looks back on the Challenger series and the Match itself. Posted today at 12:49 am
Marine Auctions: May Online Auctions
Marina Berths and Vessels, some vessels unreserved Marina Berths and Vessels, some vessels unreserved. The Bidding for the May Online Auction will commence on Thursday 23rd May and will end on Thursday 29th May at 2pm AEST. Posted on 12 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura Day 1
Ideal conditions for competitive racing in Portugal The highly anticipated Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts officially kicked off today in Vilamoura, welcoming some of the world's finest Dragon sailors for the first day of racing. Posted on 12 May
Race hard, sail fast, experience the unforgettable
The countdown is on to the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600 Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Antigua Yacht Club, the 17th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start in Antigua on Monday 23rd February 2026. Posted on 12 May
How Seldén Carbon Masts are made
I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood to find out more I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood from Seldén to find out a bit more about how the carbon tow reels become the masts that we use when out sailing. Posted on 12 May
SailGP upgrades F50 fleet ahead of New York event
A series of upgrades are now under way to all 12 wingsails Following a full inspection and review, SailGP can confirm a series of upgrades are now under way to all 12 wingsails in the championship's fleet of high-speed F50 catamarans. Posted on 12 May
Melges 24s launch 2025 Great Lakes Season
Muskegon YC promises first-class race management, scenic shoreside amenities, top-notch hospitality The 2025 Quantum Sails Melges 24 Great Lakes Cup Series kicks off in full force on May 17-18 with the highly anticipated Muskegon Spring Championship, hosted by Muskegon Yacht Club. Posted on 12 May
American Yacht Club Spring Regatta
Dozens of J/crews from around the region enjoyed racing in coastal PHRF and ORC fleets This past week, the American Yacht Club hosted its annual Spring Regatta from Friday to Sunday on Western Long Island Sound. Posted on 12 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 1
Wind drops during a period known for the strongest tidal currents The first day of the ILCA World Championship brought a dual challenge of tide and wind to the waters off Qingdao. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, today marks the 15th day of the fourth month — a period known for the strongest tidal currents. Posted on 12 May
2025 Vashon Island Race
'Glory' record the third fastest time after a postponed start No one would have guessed during the postponed start for lack of wind, that 'Glory' would record the third fastest time for the Vashon Island Race. Posted on 12 May
Sea Sure 2025RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERMySail 2025