NEW YORK TO PORTSMOUTH - THE COURSE
This is the classic ocean racing route: Ambrose Light to the Lizard, then on up the English Channel to the Solent and Portsmouth. There have been plenty of record runs from the Ambrose Light to the Lizard, and the Transatlantic race that started it all in 1905, won by the legendary Charlie Barr in Atlantic, was on this course.
For the Volvo Ocean Race, the start is just off battery Park, at the tip of Manhattan and almost in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. After the gun goes, the boats race under the Verazzano Narrows Bridge, then on to pass the Ambrose Light tower before tackling the Atlantic crossing.
The classic route for the crossing involves getting offshore first of all, then heading north east towards the Grand Banks and Newfoundland. The Banks, the first obstacle, are often shrouded in fog and offer the strange sensation of sailing at high speed with almost zero visibility. While fog on land is usually accompanied by calm conditions, at sea fog and wind are bosom buddies.
After the Banks, the course tends a little more east until Newfoundland is abeam – though there will be a moveable ice waypoint somewhere in this region to prevent the boats from straying too far into danger. Statistics show that there is a greater chance of falling foul of ice in this area than in the Southern Ocean. The Labrador Current drives the ice south, until it meets the Gulf Stream flowing north. At this point the Gulf Stream turns eastwards.
Past the ice waypoint, the boats will head towards the east, though still tending to the north a little – it is surprising how far south New York is compared to the western approaches to the English Channel. The ideal course will be dictated by the course of the weather systems that are driven across the Atlantic by the jet stream – the stratosphere’s fast-moving winds that dictate the path the weather systems take. In some years the jet stream tends to the south, in other years – as at the time of writing, just before the start – it stays north, in other years it wiggles about like a wriggly worm. Whatever, the point is that the boats will be looking for a big low pressure system with lots of wind. They will lock into this system, and ride the front of it as far as they can. Of course, there might not be a really big system, but the navigators will have to pick each system as it comes along and make the best of it.
As likely as not the depressions will take the boats towards Ireland – all that rain is what makes the place so beautifully green – but at some point the fleet will have to swing south to pass Lizard Point in Cornwall, a scoring gate, and also the point where the stopwatch might click to record a new transatlantic record.
After the Lizard, things get decidedly tactical on the run up Channel. The tide has a big effect on matters and playing the tide to advantage will be a part of the winning strategy. When the tide is with you, you will want to be in the strongest stream; when it is against you, you will want to be close inshore where the force is less, or even tucked right in behind a headland where there might even be a back eddy that helps you on your way.
The closer the boats get to the Solent and the finish, the more difficulties there are with the tide. Portland Bill in Dorset, a long rocky arm of the land, causes a severe deflection of the tide, the infamous Portland Race. If the tide is against you, the only place to be is right inshore under the towering cliffs, literally a biscuit-toss from the rocks.
After Portland Bill, come St Alban’s Head, Anvil Point and Christchurch Bay, then the entrance to the Solent is the next hazard.
Through the Needles Channel into the Solent, there is the notorious Shingles Bank to port, and the Needles rocks themselves to starboard. In heavy wind against tide conditions, there can be some nasty and testing seas here. Once past the Needles, the next problem is the narrow neck of the Solent at Hurst Castle. Odd tide effects cause whirlpools and standing waves here, and in light weather a boat can be grabbed by the tide and rammed into the shingle beach just off the castle. All in all, a good place to be to watch the boats come through methinks!
Apart from watching out for sundry shoals and either dodging or using the tide to best effect, the boats should have a relatively straightforward sail to the finish off Gilkicker Point. Plenty of spectator spots exist, though the best ones will probably be in the Isle of Wight. As always Cowes Parade of the Princess Green to the west of the Royal Yacht Squadron will be good places to frequent as the boats come through.
But for the best view, get yourself a fast rigid inflatable boat or powerboat, situate yourself somewhere at the western end of the Solent and follow the boats through to the west as they race in.