Events at Whitstable Yacht Club
2009 Forts race
5 - 6 September 2009
Now in its twelfth year, our Long Distance catamaran race has evolved into a well-balanced test of catamaran racing skills, attracting top national helms as well as experienced club racers and international entries. See formal Notice of Race inside.
Laid out in hub and spoke format, with each leg returning through a gate near the club, the full course covers 85 kilometres in estuary, coastal and open sea conditions, and provides racing at all points of sailing.
The flexibility of this format differentiates the Forts Race from other marathon events.
- It can be shortened for all competitors if winds are light.
- It can be shortened for smaller cats, to provide similar duration of racing.
- The course can be changed if conditions change.
- The risk of cancellation is reduced as it is easier to manage.
- Competitors can retire on passing through the gate each round.
- Support craft can be rapidly re-deployed where needed in emergency.
As different conditions favour different types of catamaran, there are separate categories of prizes for modern fast three sail cats with spinnakers, traditional fast two-handed cats and smaller two-handed cats.
Key Statistics
Most popular classes are Dart 18, Formula 18, Hurricane 5.9, Spitfire and Tornado. Typically the race attracts 50 entries, with past maxima and minima of 45-60 entries. Nine times out of ten, the race can be run on the Saturday, with Sunday as a free day. Tidal flow is generally less than three knots, and even then only out to sea at the Forts
Schedule
The 2009 Forts Race will be held on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th September. The Skippers Briefing shall be held at 12.00 hrs on the 5th September.
In response to demand to expand the format with a day of cans racing as well as the established long distance event, the new programme for Saturday is three back to back races with separate starts for ten or more boats in any class while Sunday will be reserved for long distance racing.
This year the list of eligible classes has been revised down to and including Dart 18 Two-Up but nothing slower. Faster single-handers may now take part.
Forts Race Course
Saturday round the cans racing will take place in Whitstable Bay to the North West of WYC Clubhouse. The Tornado fleet will have its own start and usual ITA/ISAF class style course for these races. The Sunday long distance race will be sailed in the area of Whitstable with up to FIVE radiating "legs". The Race Officer reserves the right to shorten the course for all OR individual competitors OR all competitors of specific classes.
For more information contact Nick Dewhirst Tel: 01227-282625.
Photographs available from Nick Champion Tel: 01227-266272
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