Last week Veloce has participated Midsummer Solo Challenge 2020 along the Swedish West Coast, with start on the North side of Marstrand Island and arrival at the harbor of the same Island. The race, which in fact is not a race, but a challenge, has 5 classes and Veloce fits in the Medium class between 30 and 35 ft LOA.
Challenge rather than Race means that there are finishers and fastest time around, but no positioning, no racing rules apply, no handicap system, but mostly, each and every sailor sailing solo has its own objective. Some race, some want to try the solo experience without being “alone” and with the safety of an arranged event, some do it because they want and do belong to a community, some because they want to challenge themselves.
So, how it went? It was fast and tough. Still in pain…
2 weeks earlier no wind at all was forcast. Having gone through a 3 days shorthand offshore training just a few weeks before in barely any wind, I was not looking forward to repeat the experience. Alone.
However a week before, the forecast turned to perfect conditions, a fresh breeze from the East, which gives speed and flat water. The latter a relieve, as it allows our autopilot to cope.
Easterly winds on the Swedish West Coast, usually means sun, warmth (all good) and unpredictable and gusty winds (not so good). And so it was, wonderful weather, gusts to 35kn. The start was actually postponed a few times to avoid the worst of the wind and not to endanger participants as well as overloading rescue teams. Smart decisions from the arranging bodies.
As there were no other restrictions than LOA, I decided to try Veloce in “light mode” and spent 2 evening removing all furniture that was neither screwed, bolted or had any structural meaning to the hull. In practice, this was about 120KG weight. I figure, that a lot of furniture could have been removed, but hey, it was not a race, was it?
The race was fast, with a time around of 18h 27m 14s and a sailed distance about 130nm, which means 7kn SOG on average., mostly reaching with just a few miles close-hauled.
Conditions for downwind sails were never present, except a few short stretches where the wind was constantly swinging between 20 and 30kn with a 30 degrees veer. I decided to play safe as I had about 12h left.
No major damages. Worth to mention, I relied on 2 charts and 2 different GPS, which both put me safely in deep water, however coming close to some rocks South West of Smögen, my sounder started beeping, rocks underwater became clearly visible and suddenly a gentle thud, in spite of sailing at 8kn. The keel has no damage and no scratches, I probably caressed some some sand at the bottom?
At some point I realized that the top of the mainsail was pointing slightly backwards and away from the mast. Once at the harbor I noticed that the fastening to the top slider had come off. It was promptly hand sewn back in place.
Beautiful experience, lots of boats, clear night at sea and I have had the opportunity to try out different setting on the autopilot. We also had a lovely fast start and managed to put up a fight with the faster fleet of Dehler. On the negative side, I wish there was some variety, to have a little fun downwind and to have needed some tactical decisions, rather than straight to the next mark, the lightest and longest boat gets there first.