Race report.
Fastnet race tracker.
https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/2019-fleet-tracking-race-player
03.08.2019. 11am.
We arrive at the check gate with storm sails set, check in and get to work marking the start line on sailgrib RS app.
The latest grib (weather file) download shows us taking 7 days to reach the Fastnet rock, considering we need to be back at Portsmouth in 9 days, this is not good.
12.30pm See’s the start of the mighty foiling multihulls, 12.45pm the IMOCA 60 fleet set off.
12.59h 45s Asymmetric ready to set, 40 mtrs to the line, the gun fires with Jubilant at the Cowes (south) end of the line where the tide is heading west, at this point the north end of the line has a slight easterly flow, a good start for us, this is always a special time, hundreds of yachts and ribs, helicopters buzzing around, the atmosphere is electric.
The fleet have a fair southeast breeze of around 10 knots, most are flying spinnakers, the tide strengthens as the breeze also picks up a couple of knots. By the time we reach Hurst castle Jubilant has 10 knots otg (over the ground). The maxi yachts start to pass us, first Rambler, then spectacularly Scallywag gives us a great display of team work, cutting through the fleet at the best part of 20 knots just a few meters away from many yacht including Jubilant.
Around this time the breeze is also veering slightly, we dowse the spinnaker and set the genoa. We soon realise a tack will be needed to stay in the strong current, we missed the tack time by a few minutes and come out of the ripping tide, our tack puts us at 1.5 knots otg, a painful tack for 10 minutes watching the fleet fly out the Solent at 10 knots. We make it back to the deep water and fast tide and tack back, the breeze has shifted a little to a southerly 12 – 16 knots.
The forecast is showing no wind around midnight, also the first signs of strong winds to come. First a short period of fair southeasterly quickly veering to southwesterly and strengthening to 25 gusting 30. Later in the week a large low pressure system threatens, with it a calm before the storm. Its going to get a bit bumpy.
04.08.19 – midnight. The breeze dies as predicted, 3 hours drifting somewhere off Lyme bay, which is further forward than we expected to be, 3am a slight but fair breeze begins but soon veers to southwest. 9am the wind dies again to 2 knots, we spend 10 minutes fishing for some dinner catching many tiny mackerel, none big enough to eat, so no fresh fish for breakfast. Soon the wind starts to fill from the southwest. By 10 am a good 15 gusting 20 knots is driving the fleet on.
Just 1 day and 4 hours into the race, around 2 hours before we reach Plymouth the mighty multihulls finish in record time. Just after 5 pm Jubilant passes the Eddystone lighthouse a full 12 hours faster than the Myth of Malham race.
04.08.19. 20.00h The sea state is starting to get lumpy as the winds start to build to SW 25 – 30 but we are making a good 5 knots towards the Lizard. We get a report that many yachts have retired and are heading for safe ports. By 11 pm the wind is gusting 35 knots, we have 4 ships anchored about 2 miles ahead and 2 fishing vessels crossing in front at close range, Nicky calls the +30 knot gusts, the stars begin to disappear the night becomes black then the ships and fishing boats disappear from view as a rain front approaches then the squall hits, driving rain, gusty winds, short sharp seas and waves crash across the deck. Skipper Martin comes out on deck asking whats happening. The shouted conversation went something like this…. Martin ” Whats happening I can’t see anything” Nigel ” I can’t see anything either but we have anchored ships 2 miles ahead and 2 MFV’s crossing our bows nearby” Martin ” ok, I saw them on AIS but I heard 35 knots called out” Nigel ” yes it’s gusting 35 with these squalls” Martin ” all I can see is water swirling around the masthead light” The squall passed, we tacked out to a southerly heading.
At this point I want to commend the galley crew, breakfast, lunch and dinner with snacks never stopped, Jubilant was taking a pounding from time to time but work went on down below, I have said this many times ” its a job I cannot do in lumpy seas” If it was left to me, a pot noodle or cold pie is what the crew would get. Bloody well done ladies.
05.08.19. 02.00h The wind veered to the west 25 gusting 30 at times. More yachts were retiring. By 6 am Rambler & Scallywag south of the Lizard on their way to the finish and Jubilant was south of the Lizard on her way out towards the Western approaches.
We sailed on with the wind slowly backing to southwest again, we passed the traffic separation scheme off the Scilly’s 15.30h and could finally bare off the wind a few degrees. Jubilant gained some speed but the wave sets were coming from the west which made for some hard slamming and green water across the deck, conditions below were getting damp and uncomfortable but this is the Fastnet, its expected.
05.08.19. 18.00 The first indication of some very heavy weather coming.
The grib download came through showing a large unseasonable low pressure on its way in a couple of days. Winds of 50+ knots forecast. F10 on the beaufort scale. But before the winds would be a 12 hour period of no wind, then picking up fast from the east, veering to southwest over a further 12 hour period. This is a threat we took on board.
05.08.19. 21.30. Our friends on board Amokura ( we met on the safety course and frequently saw during the races ) had retired, later we found out damage caused by an accidental tack had nearly dismasted the beautiful yawl. We bashed on across the western approaches with the wind slowly veering and strengthening.
06.08.19. 02.00h Halfway to the Fastnet we had a westerly 25-30 knot wind, Jubilant was slamming hard, the rigging shaking and large waves across the deck half filling the cockpit, one wave took out the support for the wind generator, another almost knocked Martin off he’s feet, Nicky took one straight down her jacket collar. Exciting sailing but hard going.
07.00h 45 miles to Fastnet. Most of the fleet have rounded the lighthouse with around a dozen yet to do so including Jubilant, winds had just risen to a constant 30 gusting 35 regularly, sea’s were rough. Sailgrib prediction was saying 18 hours slamming to the lighthouse, then becalmed 20 miles short of the Scilly’s for 12 hours before getting a kick in the ass by the low pressure and possibly an F10 storm.
Things to consider: Safety and well being of Jubilant and the crew. Jubilant is taking a hammering at times. Wetness, feeling woozy, and a little fear amongst the crew, lastly getting home on time and in one piece. We discussed our options and the best thing to do. There will always be another Fastnet. A team decision was made, we will turn around and retire from the race, not an easy decision to make just 45 miles from the rock. 06.08.19. 08.20 Quite emotional and all feeling a bit disappointed but sightly relieved we turned Jubilant around and called RORC to announced our retirement. If you do not fear the sea, you should not be out there.
For days we discussed our move wondering if it was the right decision, looking back at our possibility’s.
1st. We retired and got a great sail back to Plymouth before the period of light winds hit, enjoying a night at the race village in good weather, meeting up with Sophie and Jerry from the 2013 crew & allowing us to reach Portland before the storm then getting us back to Southsea by Sunday evening.
2nd. We carried on and retire as the light winds hit, motoring to Plymouth for a wet and windy couple of days at race village, then a long sail back probably arriving some time Monday in Southsea past the dead line, or leave Jubilant in Plymouth to be sailed back at a later date.
3rd. We try to complete the race. The weather did as it was forecast to do. We would have had to shelter in the Scilly’s for 2 days before carrying on to finish on Sunday. Jubilant would then be left in Plymouth to be sailed back at a later date.
We arrived in Plymouth 07.08.19. 12.30pm. Greeted by Sophie and fish n chips all round.
We did have a great sail back to Plymouth, escorted all the way across the western approaches and past the Lizard by Dolphins. We did have good weather at Plymouth meeting Sophie and Jerry. Leaving early the next morning we made it to Portland and got to see the storms fury at Portland bill. Finally we had a great sail back to Southsea on Sunday arriving at around 19.30.
We all agree the correct choice was made although it is a bitter pill to swallow.
Everyone onboard done a grand job, thanks Martin, Andy, Gilberto, Fiona & Nicky. It was a pleasure to sail with you all. Thanks Jubilant for bringing us home safely.
Friday evening onboard Jubilant in Portland harbour the storm was gusting F10. Had the fleet been of the 70’s type yachts and forecast capabilities, there could have been reason for concern again although this low pressure was a single large system with a steady veering wind rather than 2 systems colliding over the western approaches with rapid wind shifts. Modern day yachts are fast and forecasts available from many sources including satellite downloads.
The end of a challenging campaign, although not totally successful, at great adventure and memory & 2 new friends for life. I would happily sail again with everyone onboard.
A special thanks to everyone who supported us on this campaign 🙂
Crew list: Skipper, Martin. Relief, Nigel. Navigation – tactician, Gilberto. Sail trim & muscle, Andy & most important of all jobs on a race yacht, Cuisine and deck hands Nicky & Fiona. Sadly we have lost Armando due to work commitments, he will be missed by all of us.
Jubilant’s check list is complete so its mostly down to the planets weather systems now. Latest forecasts are showing very light and variable breezes for the first 4 days at the moment. It could take us 3 to 4 days to reach Plymouth, we have around 9 days to complete the race before crew need to be back on shore, could be a close call this year. Towards the end of the week the winds look much more promising, but we know how precise the weather models are.
IRC4 start time 13.00 BST 03/08/19
Race tracker can be found here, tracking will be live on the morning of the start, 3rd August. https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/competitors/race-documents/fleet-tracking
Any live feeds and reports will be posted on our public Facebook page here, https://www.facebook.com/Jubilant-Fastnet-campaigns-2013-2019-530474330298394/
It all depends on the Atlantic pressure systems and which direction they travel. With no serious low pressure systems on the other side of the pond at the moment, it looks like a light wind race but hot weather can also produce localised stormy conditions to deal with. At the end of the day, it is what it is and we will sail our best to finish the race.
Jubilant & SOL 2019 Fastnet Challenge 