Broken cloud and a light Westerly breeze greeted the RORC fleet of 21 yachts as they assembled on the evening of Sunday 6th August at the RYS Line for the start of the 2006 Cowes to La Rochelle Race.

As the scheduled race start time of 19:00 approached it seemed that the weather gods were in favour for a change, the breeze increasing to a steady F3 from the west and the sun began to break through the clouds. The shipping gods however, had other ideas, sending a very large container ship outbound from Southampton to be at the turning area by West Bramble at start time.  It was a close call, but the ship passed through the Line with 2 minutes to spare allowing the committee to continue with the sequence.

On the gun the fleet were split, 6 yachts choosing the Island shore the rest of the boats taking the northern route to the mainland shore to reduce the effects of the flood tide.  Getting the jump on the Island shore was Serendip, Paul King's Prima 38, whilst on the mainland shore it was Fidessa Fastwave, Chris Brown / Peter Harding's DK46, Simply the Best, Philip Wood's Grand Soleil 43 having been too eager and having to return under the X-Ray flag.

Reporting in on Monday morning at 11:40, Fidessa Fastwave was off Plymouth in 8 - 10 kts of breeze from the North West, John Shepherd's Ker 46 Fair Do's VII and Creative Play, H2O Yachting's Farr 40 sailed by Andy Greenwood ahead.

Update at 08:30:

Yesterday evening several yachts reported passing the Eddystone lighthouse.  Hooligan V, Edward Broadway's Maxfun 35 and Serendip at 1945 followed by Tiger, Steven Winstanley/Adrian Norris' Reflex 38 at 1950.  Slingshot, Shaun Murphy's J 105 reported passing at 2132 shortly followed by Sonic Boom, Simon Brady's First 31.7 at 2200.  Overnight Equilibrium, Graham Whitehouse's Sweden 38 passed the Eddystone lighthouse at 0100.

Fidessa - Fastwave passed Ushant at 0300 with Creative Play and Cap Vad, Thibaut Derville's Jumbo 40 nearby.

Note:
All reports of yachts positions are reliant on them having adequate communications coverage and self reporting, therefore there may be periods when there is no mobile phone signal and they are unable to report for a projected period.  This does not indicate that there are any problems.

Further updates on the fleet's progress will be published as they are received.