Fastnet reboot.

The famous Kialoa maxis raced by well known American yachtsman Jim Kilroy carved an unparalleled reputation in the 60s and 70s with a succession of victories in the world's premier ocean races. Lindsay May joined Kialoa II for her racing comeback in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race--48 years after she last lined up in the bluewater classic.

In 2016, Paddy Broughton announced that he and his brother Keith had bought Kialoa II. which was lying in Portugal. As she sailed to Hamble in the UK for an overhaul, Paddy called me and a number of former Brindabella stalwarts, asking us to join him race in all the classic ocean races around the globe.

In a heartbeat, I was in. Many of the old Brindabella crew were back together racing, and Paddy is great company, as well as a highly capable organiser and sailor. The yachting bucket list was back on the agenda.

BACK IN BUSINESS

The first event planned was the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race, starting in Cowes, UK, on 6 August. I had competed in the 1983 Admiral's Cup that culminated in the Fastnet, and had sailed twice on the Solent since. The crucial part of sailing both on the Solent and in the English Channel is battling the tidal currents. I just love it; we have nothing like it in Sydney and while the annual Audi Hamilton Island Race Week gives some exposure to tidal currents, it's not to the same extent as you experience in the UK.

Kialoa II was to have a combined UK and Australian crew. The Aussies arrived early on Monday 31 July, and were off the plane and ready to get started. There was some major work required from shore-based services to make the boat race ready, such as a forward hatch, stanchions, electrical work, and an anchor fairlead to be installed.

Each day we managed just a few hours sailing on the Solent and then back to the Hamble Yacht Services base so the work could continue. All the jobs were finished on the Saturday, and we were finally able to fly a spinnaker and put the boat to bed, ready for the Sunday start.

CLEAN EXIT

The weather had been typical for the English summer--sunny moments followed by rain squalls and big temperature drops--but the start was a glorious summer day, and a 15-knot sou'wester made the exit to the western end of the Solent a beat.

With a three-plus knot ebbing tide, the journey to Hurst Castle was a quick one, and the fast-flowing water made up for any problems we had tacking all 73 feet of Kialoa II, which wasn't designed as an around-the-buoys racer. We planned to stay out of trouble and limit our port tack legs so as not to be pinned on the Isle of Wight shore. Generally, the plan worked, but it didn't make for the fastest start.

As we neared the western channel and the famous Shingle Bank, we found ourselves among the Volvo 65 fleet that had started 20 minutes later. Rambler 88 and the 125--foot Nikata left us in their wake, but we used the now four-knot current to exit.

There was a moment of alarm as we approached the western edge of the bank. My chart showed we had about 150 metres to go to the edge, but the depth shallowed alarmingly so we immediately called for a tack. As we went through the eye of the wind, I noted the depth had shrunk to 0.3 metres, and held my breath as we went about. One yacht unfortunately grounded on the bank, and with an outgoing tide, she had no chance of getting off until it changed some four hours later.

Our next challenge was to get past Portland Bill before the tide started to flood and the flow moved toward the east. As The Bill was some 45 miles distant, we had no chance of making that gate, so we headed offshore where the adverse tidal flow would be less than on the shore. In all, we had a good night. The wind strength allowed us to continue to sail at speeds that countered the tide so we didn't have to anchor (kedge), as is often the case when sailing in the UK.

Monday was a slower day in lighter breeze. We managed to keep sailing, although many surrounding lightweight boats were struggling to keep moving westward. As dusk fell, we passed The Lizard among a fleet of merchant ships anchored below Falmouth.

Lands End presented an interesting tactical decision. Across the course there are three Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) designed to separate big ships, and prohibited areas foryachts. To the west of Lands End, there is a TSS that requires a real decision as to whether you go south between it and the Scilly Islands, or go north for 30 miles to clear it. From The Lizard to Fastnet Rock, the southern track is one mile less than the northern route.

We actually went more north than most of the fleet, and on the starboard tack out we only had to do two small, five-mile tacks, gaining about 10 miles on all the boats that took the southern option. The breeze did go around to the north, and we finally sailed slightly eased toward the iconic Fastnet Rock.

We skipped above the TSS situated to the east of the Rock, and eased away to be due north at 0600 to the minute. With the sun just about to pop over the horizon, the crew took some glorious photographs of Fast-net Rock lighthouse, a full moon immediately above the tower.

We survived our first gybe just south of The Rock and settled in for the 135-mile run to The Isles of Scilly. The mizzen staysail was set, and soon Kialoa II was powering along at 10 knots.

During the day we started to pass many boats, smaller and far more nimble than our 45-tonne, 53-year-old veteran yacht. Surprisingly, when we reached The Scillies, it appeared that the wind coming across these very low islands was significantly lessened. I had thought that given the low landmass, the effect on the wind would be minimal, but we all had to take our medicine and tough it out as we slowly eked east.

Dawn had us back near The Lizard, but from there it was a good reach all the way to the Plymouth Sound finish. As we approached the line, the ebbing tide and dying breeze gave the impression that we would have to tack to cross the line, but a little lift just off the end of the breakwater had the finish horn sound at 1239 on Thursday for an elapsed time of 96 hours and 19 minutes. We were 37th in Class 1 out of 60 starters, and across the entire fleet of 312 starters, we came 176th.

Considering the short preparation and the age and style of Kialoa II, it was a good first hit out.

DOCKSIDE REWARDS

Plymouth in 1983 was a much less agreeable place to finish an international yacht classic. I recall climbing up a muddy ladder, trudging through a dockyard, and hailing a passing cab.

"Where have you boys come from?" queried the cabbie.

"Heard of the Fastnet Yacht Race?" said Bob Fraser.

Other things have changed, too. The large Plymouth Yacht Haven has floating pontoons and a ramp that copes with the five-metre or so tidal range, as well as a capable bunch of deckies eager to take a line.

We stood on crushed gravel, drinking pints of beer and eating paella, but only 48 hours later we were on the train to Heathrow, winging our way home. We'd spent a fabulous 96 hours with a great group of mates and new sailing friends, racing on a fine example of ocean racing heritage that raised heads wherever she sailed.

Paddy and a delivery crew left Hamble on 26 August bound for Sydney and the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Kialoa II will be back in Sydney in November, 46 years after she stormed to line honours in the 1971 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Drop by and admire the lines of this beautiful grand dame of yachting, and appreciate the design ingenuity of a 1964 yacht that was well ahead of her time. We're hoping to beat the race times she set in her glory days. mlexfastnet.com kialoa2.com.au

Caption: BACK IN BUSINESS There were a record 350 entries in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race. Kialoa II relished the opportunity, and considering the short preparation and the age and style of the boat, May says, "it was a good first hit out."

Caption: DAWN PATROL Kialoa II closes in on Fastnet Rock just before sunrise. When the breeze filled in the maxi's waterline length saw her reel in younger and lighter rivals.

Article Details

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Title Annotation:	RACE & REGATTA ROUNDUP
Author:	May, Lindsay
Publication:	Offshore Yachting
Geographic Code:	4EUUK
Date:	Oct 1, 2017
Words:	1480
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