I spent about 8 hours hanging around the Fastnet Tuesday. Conditions were rough and at times very miserable. Some fantastic racers!
I counted at least 14 other RIBs at one point, but after one nasty wet squall i nearly had it to myself for the evening! Not everyone was dressed for the conditions!
I'll try post a few pics next week if my camera survived a series of settings but this one from YBW shows Hugo Boss rounding and gives a sense of the conditions. Amazing machine.
You'll also see the most unlikely spectator boat I've ever seen at the Fastnet!
http://www.ybw.com/pic...17-08-09-at-16-24-29
I followed HB south a mile or so and a few minutes after turning back saw her almost broach! Went way over and then luffed up sails aflapping for quite a bit!
I was in Baltimore yesterday morning and was talking to one of the guys from the boat pulled in by the RNLI Tuesday night after almost dismasting. He was feeling pretty lucky about how bad it could have been. They kept the mast up using the boom to counterbalance and some halyards. Two of them were having some issues trying to fly home with their IDs back in the UK. They also had engine issues which is why they'd given up on repairs in time to rejoin the race.
I spent another four or five hours at The Rock yesterday in much nicer weather but less spectacular boats going past. But these are the guys with huge grit.
I overstayed waiting for a group of racers and paid for it heading into steep breaking fresh NW driven seas combined with full Spring tides at the Fastnet, Mizzen and Three Castle Head!
Worst race I've ever seen at the Mizzen and way too wild to even contemplate a photo. Turning West into Dunmanway bay was "interesting" and possibly even wetter running before and occasionally surfing a steep swell.
Summer weather in Ireland!
) , great sight!
