Listen to the Radio, read the Sailing Instructions and look for the flags!

The competitors were very keen, in fact too keen on the first start of the RORC 2010 North Sea Race. The large fleet of 54 boats on the first start hit the line 15 seconds early. There was a lot of shouting! The Race Committee signalled a general recall calling back the fleet of IRC and ORC Class One and Two boats. The majority of fleet took a long time to realise what was happening despite two additional bangs, a First Substitute flag being displayed and repeated radio broadcasts. Some even ignored the majority turning back and kept going up the beat. They were obviously not listening to the radio or keeping their eyes and ears open to what was happening around them.

The race committee went into another starting sequence but the fleet were now thoroughly confused with many boats thinking they were on a five minute warning signal and crossing the line when the five minute gun went off.

The Race Committee continue with the sequence. Boats were now trying to get back from the first start and from being over the line at the five minute signal. The majority made it back to start correctly on the starting signal but some boats started up to five minuets late.

ORC Classes Three and Four, who were on the second start and sailing the short course, enjoyed watching the confusion of the earlier start and all started correctly first time!

So off they went on what, according to the forecast, promised to be a slow race and the starting mayhem to talk about.

All sixty four of the competitors reported having a great race which despite the U shaped course was nearly all off the wind. The race was won by Piet Vroon on his Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3. Interviewed after the race Piet explained "We kept the wind with at least 9 knots thought the race all off wind VMG sailing. We had the best of the tide up to Smith’s Knoll and only had a foul tide for the last two hours. We were also fortunate with a couple of hours of fair tide down the Dutch coast to the finish." Tonnerre was in front of Pleomax the Volvo 60 for most of the race and finished only 12 minutes after them.

Eclectic, Foxy and E–Mission enjoyed close racing in IRC Zero trading places throughout the race. The weather favoured the bigger boats and the more modern, lighter designs. It was also a race where boats without overlapping headsails really suffered. However all of the fleet enjoyed close boat on boat racing and the great downwind sailing. For full results look on the RORC website www.rorc.org

For a view from the Committee Boat of what happened at the start see below:

It was difficult to understand the first start of the North Sea Race 2010. Not only were the competitors confused but you will be unless I can find a way to explain this:

Picture the scene:

A bright sunny morning, off Harwich, around 1030 in the morning

Fifty four very keen yachts all wanting to get a good start on the first start of the race.

Wind – Southerly 10 knots

Sea state - a slight chop

A strong tide – pushing the fleet over the line

The first fleet start; notes from the Committee Boat - what happened (all times BST):

Time Sound Visual Signal What should happen What happened

1020 Bang! Numeral 1 up Warning Signal for the first start Fleet massing

1025 Bang! Prep flag up Preparatory Signal Fleets jostling

1029 Hooter Prep flag down 1 minute to start Fleet close to line

1029 45s 70% of fleet cross line

1030 Bang! Numeral 1 down Start 70% fleet OCS

1030 10s Bang! Bang! First Sub up General recall – fleet to return Fleet carries on!

1034 Bang! First Sub down 1 minute to warning signal Fleet carries on!

1035 Bang! Numeral 1 up Signal for the first start Fleet turns back

1040 Bang! Prep flag up Preparatory Signal Fleet thinks they are starting!

1044 Hooter Prep flag down 1 minute to start Fleet lining up while boats are still coming back

1045 Bang! Numeral 1 down Start Boats starting and returning

10 45 10s Bang! X Flag up Individual recall Some boats that were still returning are OCS