Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014 | Page 87

COWES PORT HANDBOOK 2014 - 2015 Race Start Lines ...................... The start line for ‘round-the-cans’ (around the buoys) races is usually from one of the shore lines depicted in the diagram below. An inner distance mark may also be laid clear of the fairway and breakwater ‘Construction Zone’ for the duration of the start sequence, subject to the prior approval of Cowes Harbour Commission. Always check with the organising club or the sailing instructions for full details regarding shore line or Precautionary Area committee boat starts. Prince Consort (ABP Southampton) Trinity House Mooring Buoy Outer Fairway X Snowden No.2 Moorings No.1 C2 es Inn Wir chor X ay irw Fa RLYC/RTYC Racing Start Line er RCYC/CCYC Racing Start Line An Ve ( X RCYC X RYS Racing Start Line West Cowes Small Craft Moorings nel han aft C Cr mall S X Small Craft Moorings No.4 ISC Racing Start Line Not to b Full details on the 2014 Breakwater Construction Programme are on pages 20-23. Racing Courses ..................... The Solent offers challenging conditions for all types of yacht, so race organisers usually set courses a short time before the start and may sometimes even alter the course before or during a race to reflect changes in wind direction. Smaller boats will race shorter courses round the cans, while larger yachts may sail as far west as The Needles and east towards Portsmouth. Sometimes committee boat starts are used in and around the central Solent. The Cowes Keelboat Solent Series is run with shore line starts using the Cowes clubs’ start lines, whilst the Cowes Keelboat Championship uses committee boat starts. Races often allow for two or three circuits of the course, allowing boats to experience a variety of conditions and to enable organisers to shorten the course if conditions deteriorate. See the pull out ‘Buoy Racer’ chart inside the back cover of this Handbook for the 2014 Solent buoy positions. COWES.co.uk 87