I just had a look and read this on there Jon
Quote;
The Harbour Master responsible for traffic in the Solent has indicated he is not happy with a rolling start off the Royal Yacht Squadron (It’s OK for yachts to be charging about at break-neck speeds around the mouth of the Medina, but not powerboats) so a new start procedure will be adopted. The fleet will muster off the RYS and run down the Solent at around 40 mph behind the start boat to Hurst Castle, a distance of around ten miles, when the green flag will drop. This should provide a true spectacle, where 21 footers will be running along the bigger, faster craft. This format will eliminate the need for an armada for safety boats in the Solent. Once clear of the Solent the fleet are on their own and although safety boats will be on patrol, it’s the responsibility of each team to ensure they have adequate safety equipment on board. (Blue Marlin sank in minutes during RB8 but the crew took to their life raft and were picked up by another competitor) We understand the Officer of the Day, who has never raced offshore has banned canopied boats on the grounds of safety despite at least four wanting to take part.
When the Cowes – Torquay race was first run, it was very basic with almost the entire fleet arriving in Cowes under their own power. There is little reason why this cannot happen again and if it’s successful, the future of Britain’s most famous offshore race will be assured.
I can understand safety is paramount! my first thoughts thou is that we will all be moving away from cowes to watch them at speed either around swanage or the needles and not take it all in at cowes anymore. Yarmouth or lymington could be the new Cowes pit area seen then, thou i prefer Cowes.
|