![]() The small keelboat classes are, for many people, the heart of Solent racing. Elsewhere, there is dinghy racing out of clubs in Lymington and Yarmouth, the Hamble River, Southampton Water, the area between Hill Head and Stokes Bay, which has three dinghy clubs in close proximity, and at Wootton on the Isle of Wight. Just west of Cowes is Gurnard Sailing Club which is the main dinghy club on the Isle of Wight and which has a great cadet programme for young members. Within the Solent, however, there is still plenty of dinghy racing. Tidal conditions in Hayling Bay are easier than in the Solent and traffic near the racing areas is considerably less. ![]() The most popular area for dinghy racing is just outside the Solent, at Hayling Island Sailing Club. In fact, there is plenty of opportunity for dinghy racing despite the tidal rates in much of the area, which are not ideal for small boat racing. Many people think of the Solent as mainly suitable for day racing keelboats and cruiser-racers rather than dinghy racing. In this section of Cowes Online you'll find some general information on Solent racing, including types of courses, how racing is organised, getting involved, finding crew, and preparing for racing. The area inshore and to the northwest of the Thorn Channel, and the area to the east of Osborne Bay under the Isle of Wight shore, can both be good alternatives, as can close under the mainland shore, inshore of the north channel around the Brambles. Sometimes, though, race officers forget that there are other areas in the central Solent that can be even better for windward-leeward courses in some combinations of wind and tide. The Hill Head Plateau, just to the east of the Brambles Bank, is a favourite place for race officers to set windward-leeward courses as it benefits from shallow water for easy mark laying and the tidal shadow of the bank to its west. For example, most racing from Cowes - and there is a huge amount of it in all types of boats - takes place in the central Solent but courses can also be set in the eastern and western Solent, depending on conditions. Consequently, this wonderful, sheltered area is home to a rich mixture of events, including racing for dinghies, small keelboats, cruiser- racers, and handicap and level-racing for larger racing yachts. ![]() The ideal, of course, is to enjoy and learn from both.įortunately, the Solent offers plenty of locations that allow a variety of courses, even windward-leeward courses in areas that enjoy some tidal shelter. Boat speed and tactics are highlighted but strategy, navigation, and boat handling get much more of a test around Solent courses. Windward-leeward courses set in areas of no tide and with steady winds may create a 'fairer' race course but they can become repetitive and limited in their challenge. It's true that it has strong tides, complex wind patterns, lots of leisure and commercial traffic, choppy water, and ever-changing conditions - but, for many sailors, it's the complexity that makes Solent racing such a rewarding challenge. A few people claim to dislike racing in the Solent, because it's such a tricky place. ![]()
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