News at Whitstable Yacht Club
Forts race
The UK’s premier catamaran long distance race, now in it’s 18th year, will be sailed on 2013 SCHRS ratings, and is now open to the 505, B14 and 49er high performance dinghy classes
Over the last 18 years, our Long Distance catamaran race has evolved into a well-balanced test of catamaran racing skills, attracting top national helms as well as experienced club racers and international entries.
Laid out in hub and spoke format, with each leg returning through a gate near the club, the full course covers 85 kilometres in estuary, coastal and open sea conditions, and provides racing at all points of sailing.
The flexibility of this format differentiates the Forts Race from other marathon events.
- It can be shortened for all competitors if winds are light.
- It can be shortened for smaller cats, to provide similar duration of racing.
- The course can be changed if conditions change.
- The risk of cancellation is reduced as it is easier to manage.
- Competitors can retire on passing through the gate each round.
- Support craft can be rapidly re-deployed where needed in emergency.
As different conditions favour different types of catamaran, there are separate categories of prizes for modern fast three sail cats with spinnakers, smaller two-handed cats and qualifying classes.
The list of eligible classes has been revised down to and including Dart 18 Two-Up but nothing slower. Faster single-handers may now take part.
New for 2013 - Test your boat speed and find out who’s fastest in an AC45 style time trial event on the Sunday.
There are a large number of accommodation options within walking distance of the club (see the WYC accommodation pages), and WYC has a limited number of bunk rooms and camper van spaces available. Booking early is recommended! Parking in the Whitstable town centre, close to the club, is cheap at £2.50/day.
Key Statistics
The most popular classes are Dart 18, Formula 18, Hurricane 5.9, Spitfire and Tornado. Typically the race attracts 50 entries, with past maxima and minima of 30-60 entries.
Nine times out of ten, the race can be run on the Saturday, with Sunday for three back-to-back cans races.
Tidal flow is generally less than three knots, and even then only out to sea at the Forts
Schedule
The 2013 Forts Race will be held on Saturday and Sunday 21st and 22nd September.
Forts Race Course
Round the cans racing and time trials will take place in Whitstable Bay to the North West of WYC Clubhouse. The long distance race will be sailed in the area of Whitstable with up to FIVE radiating “legs”. The Race Officer reserves the right to shorten the course for all OR individual competitors OR all competitors of specific classes.
MapMyTracks boat tracking
Compare your tracks and speed with other boats on the water using MapMyTracks GPS tracking. See http://www.mapmytracks.com/events/forts-race-2012 and Using_MapMyTracks_Forts_2012.pdf for info.
2012:
The 2012 Forts Race was held on Saturday 15th September, with three Round the Cans races on Sunday 16th September.
Full race report
Results:
- Forts Race Gold Fleet
- Forts Race Silver Fleet
- F18 TT Race Results (Sunday).xls
- Non-F18 Race Results (Sunday).xls
2012 Documents for reference:
2011
Contact
For more information contact Nick Dewhirst Tel: 01227-282625.
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