New sails
New ALTO sails can be ordered from Vantage Sailing. Hyde’s lead time is currently 6 months. If you would like to order sails for next year please contact Stuart at Vantage.
GBSC Cheddar Ales Chase
What an excellent weekend at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club for the Great British Sailing Challenge Cheddar Ales Chase!
We enjoyed four average lap races on Saturday, two back to back races in the morning, a break for lunch and two more in the afternoon. With steady westerly F4 winds all day (plus the odd spike of a high F5 at one point) we really did appreciate the lunchtime (recovery) break.
Races 1 & 2 were won by the Vortex with ALTO 123 managing 4th & 3rd respectively after a battle with the National 18. Races 3 & 4 were dominated by the RS300. ALTO 109 made a superb start in Race 4 and sailed a good beat right at the top of the pack at the windward mark. ALTO 123 on the other hand was almost stationary at the start and suffered a “crewing deficiency” and subsequent swim at the windward mark involving a failure to attach the trapeze wire properly.
Sunday was the two hour Pursuit Race with the ALTOs starting at 38 minutes. The wind had swung to the south east by then and was a few knots lighter, though sufficient to require trapezing for most of the race.
Thank you to all at BCYC for great racing and hospitality and the excellent food from Antonia’s Deli.
Results here.
Racing under way at Wilsonian
The new season at Wilsonian began with the traditional Ice Breaker trophy race on Sunday 27th March. After a week of perfect, sunny weather the morning instead dawned with fog and cool temperatures. Visibility cleared in time for the midday start and a longish course down river was set for the mixed fleet. The good breeze with wind over tide made for some lumpy conditions at times but suited the ALTOs who crossed the finish line less than two minutes apart and took 1st and 2nd on corrected time.
Thanks to David Vettergreen for the photos of the finish and return to shore.
ALTO 123 at Stone Sailing Club
The Essex Championship at Stone SC took place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. One race was scheduled on Saturday and the wind was certainly looking lively! A rain shower came through during the briefing but by the time we launched the wind had moderated to a steady northerly F4. Result 2nd.
Sunday saw two further races in similar conditions with a break ashore for lunch. In both races ALTO 123 finished 3rd behind a Hurricane and 505.
Conditions changed slightly for Monday’s final two back to back races giving some very tight (and exciting!) kite reaches. Both races were won by an RS600. Overall we finished 3rd. Thanks to everyone at Stone for another great weekend of sailing.
ALTO 123 ready to launch!
After months of snatching a few odd spare hours here and there to work on fitting out our new dinghy, at last today we were ready to take ALTO 123 to Wilsonian Sailing Club.
We spent an afternoon setting up the rig and checking everything was working as it should and look forward to the launch tomorrow and the first race.
Wilsonian SC Early Summer Points results
ALTOS have been enjoying close racing at Wilsonian in the Fast Fleet.
Congratulations to ALTO 121 on winning the series. 122 was 2nd, 110 4th and 111 5th.
Tuesday Evening Sailing
Somewhat light winds but what better than a Tuesday evening on the water?
Close Racing at Wilsonian
A close finish between the ALTOs at Wilsonian SC during the Frostbite Series.
ALTO 118 at the Great British Sailing Challenge Finals
With forecast winds gusting 30mph all weekend, we did wonder when we set off for Rutland whether there would be any sailing. But this was the Great British Sailing Challenge and a challenge it certainly proved to be!
Saturday morning, briefing over, the fleet shot off downwind for the start line in the eastern most part of the reservoir. ALTO 118 was straight into survival mode! That didn’t last long though as we had our first swim halfway to the start line. We recovered and joined the 50 strong fleet some while later in the starting area.
Again, it was full on, charging up and down, waiting while the race team laid the course, dodging boats and trying not to mis-time tacks in the waves.
And then we spotted a rigging error. One small oversight in the rush to get ready in the morning, a failure of preparation without doubt, and we realised that there was no way the spinnaker could be hoisted. So we had to sacrifice the first race, beat all the way back to the club and sort out the problem ashore.
Fortunately, we were back out in time for Race 2 and had a demanding three lap race, and another capsize. But we got a finish.
Race 3 was equally strenuous, and crew mutiny meant the kite remained stowed away after the third lap. On the penultimate leg of lap 4 we were caught up in a huge gust as it intensified and could do nothing but hang on in there and hope to stay in one piece! Phew! We did. And looking at the stats on the website later we found we clocked 20.03 knots even without the kite.
By Sunday the winds had moderated considerably and we enjoyed the pursuit race, finishing mid fleet.
Overall, we had a great weekend, utterly exhausting and undoubtedly challenging.
Read the Yachts and Yachting report here
Isle of Sheppey Race
ALTO 122 took part in the 61st Round the Isle of Sheppey Race on 1st September.
The light, north-westerly winds for the first 10 miles from IOSSC to Shellness on the eastern tip of the island proved frustrating, being dead down wind.
On turning the corner, however, the beat up the Swale played to the ALTO’s strengths with good racing against the Fireballs and Ospreys.
The essential capsize to pass beneath The Kingsferry Bridge proved challenging against the fast, flooding tide, but once through, progress was good and ALTO 122 was the first monohull to cross the finish line.
10th place overall on corrected time after just under 5 hours' sailing.
ALTO Wins The Essex Chamionship
For the fourth year running we spent the August Bank Holiday at the Essex Championship hosted by Stone Sailing Club.
This year the wind was no more than a F3 but all six races were completed with five to count for the series. The Fast Fleet comprised one ALTO, five ISOs, six Merlins, a Phantom, RS600 and 29er.
There was good, close racing throughout and a variety of courses of two or three laps. There was much to be gained from working the tides - one tack too many into the adverse current proved costly for some. By the final race there was just one point separating the ALTO and leading ISO and with Race 6 being a discard for both, the former held on to the lead.
Our thanks go to the whole team at Stone for another superb event – good racing, fantastic food, music both evenings and the convenience of camping available on site. And with 2019 being Stone’s 70th anniversary year, we were all treated to a glass of prosecco or beer to celebrate with the Club!
Wilsonian River Challenge
Day 1
The Wilsonian River Challenge got off to a superb start with the long distance pursuit race down river on Saturday. After a short postponement while the sea breeze settled in, competitors enjoyed glorious conditions with a steady easterly F3 and 25 degrees of warm sunshine.
Boats were split into two fleets according to Great Lakes handicaps with the Race Officer managing both fleets within a single start sequence. The format worked well and provided enjoyable racing.
Day 2
Well, today we found out what was meant by “Challenge” in the event title! Three back-to-back average lap races in F4-5 in somewhat lumpy conditions between Darnet Fort and Folly Point provided more challenge than most were looking for on a Sunday!
The racing was full on, action-packed and high speed. It was survival conditions for some and massively hard work at the very least for others.
The RO and mark laying team provided excellent courses and the race management was highly efficient. The safety boat team were kept pretty busy too!
After the gruelling racing there was no respite on the trek home through Hoo Creek back to Wilsonian with some nasty gusts and we only just got through before the tide took the water away!
The help from the Sheppey Event Volunteers hauling boats up the beach was very welcome. Many sailors were beyond shattered by the time they got back ashore. Thanks go to the galley team for re-fuelling us on our return and to the many volunteers behind the scenes at Wilsonian for such a well-organised event.
Find the results on Sailracer and photos and a report on Yachts and Yachting
Photos below by Tim Olin
3 Race Regatta
As a change, this Sunday was the first of two scheduled 3 Race Regattas at Wilsonian. Instead of the usual fleet racing downriver, all competitors raced as one fleet using average lap racing in the nearby Hoo Bay. With boats ranging from Musto Skiffs to a Miracle, there was far more close quarters racing than usually experienced on the river.
All three races counted with no discards. In the ALTOs, 118 pulled away in the first race but in Race 2, ALTO 122 took the lead. However, an error involving an encounter with a Laser resulted in a 720 penalty turn, a sufficient delay to let 118 through.
118 had a good start in Race 3 but a tactical mistake on the final downwind leg handed the advantage back to 122.
Overall the event was won by the Blaze, with ALTO 118 2nd and ALTO 122 3rd.
With holidays, duties and a Skiff open at Wilsonian on Sunday, the Fast Fleet was somewhat depleted for the final two races of the Spring Series.
ALTO 120, on the water for the first time this season, sailed the perfect race in the morning. In a class of their own in terms of performance, they finished a clear 6 minutes ahead of ALTO 118. No contest.
At first, the afternoon race looked to be following the same pattern with 120 disappearing into the distance ahead. However, a few strategic errors including mark rounding to starboard instead of port and having to correct moments later, gave the window of opportunity back to 118.
Thus ensued a close battle and luffing match along Gillingham Reach until 118 finally gained the advantage. It was a case of covering and trying to keep boat speed to hang on to the lead. As the finish line came into view, 120 came back into contention with greater boat speed and a better wind. 118 was only saved by creeping along the shore and managing to avoid a tack back into the tide. Just 30 seconds between the two ALTOs.
And so the Spring Series was decided. Congratulations go to ALTO 122 who managed to retain 1st place overall on count back despite being unable to race the final weekend.
With the remnants of Storm Hannah in evidence, the last Sunday of April at Wilsonian SC provided some testing conditions for all the sailors.
If you could survive the wipe out of the sudden, intense gusts and could hang on and go with it, the reward was a stunning, planing kite leg right down Gillingham Reach! Terrific speed and a good test of nerve!
There was no let up in the afternoon either, despite the forecast for declining wind. It was one of the best sails in ages!
Waiting for the wind…
Glorious warm, sunny weather for the Weston Grand Slam but one slightly essential ingredient for sailing was in short supply! On Saturday the wind was generally F2 or less and would fill in briefly only to switch off completely moments later. Yet, despite the extremely fickle conditions the RO managed to run three races.
Sunday’s forecast did not give much hope of improvement with the wind but the competitors rigged, changed and waited. Eventually it became clear that the wind would not fill in sufficiently in the tidal window available so further racing was abandoned.
Thanks to the organisers, sponsors and Weston SC for an enjoyable weekend.
New season at Wilsonian SC
Week 1 of the new sailing season was not for the faint hearted and in Week 2 it was a case of spot the wind but for Week 3, although sub 10 degrees, we had great sailing conditions at Wilsonian.
Highlights were some close racing between the three ALTOs and a fantastic high-speed kite leg, planing all the way back to the Club line in the afternoon.
RYA Dinghy Show 2019
We had a very busy and enjoyable weekend at the Dinghy Show. Great to catch up with old friends and meet lots of new people at the ALTO stand.
If you would like to try out the ALTO at Wilsonian SC, Kent, please get in touch.
Sailing – the perfect start to the New Year
A diverse fleet of 15 entered the annual Wilsonian SC "Chilly Willies" event on New Year's Day. What could be a more perfect start to the year than to be out on the water on our favourite river?
Shame the winds were somewhat inconsistent making for some tricky conditions against the tide. And the slightly unusual course added another dimension to the proceedings. There were a few rigging mishaps and other strategic errors amongst some of us, despite it only being a couple of weeks since the end of the 2018 Winter series!
Thank you to all the volunteers on the day for making the racing possible for the rest of us.
Photos here