Thetis

The 2013 Round Island was a beautiful sight, with a 5.00am start the fleet of 1400 yachts reached down the western solent with a nice nww breeze as the sun rose above Cowes.

The J Class Yachts Velsheda and Lionheart cross tacks in pre-start manoeuvres for race 2

The J Class Yachts Velsheda and Rainbow in pre start manoeuvres for race 2

The J Class yachts Rainbow and Velsheda in pre start manoeuvres before race 2  in Thorness Bay.
Wind  15 knots from the SW , last of the flood tide.

The J Class Ranger heads to the start line for race 2 of the Solent series

The J Class Yacht Velsheda crosses the finish line ahead of Rainbow to win race 2 of the J Class Solent regatta. See The J Class Yacht Gallery to purchase the photo.

J class Race 1
Lionheart, Rainbow and Velsheda round the leeward mark at the end of round 1

j class Race 1
Velsheda, Ranger and Lionheart rounding the leeward mark

The Super maxi Ocean Leopard beats to windward with the J Class Velsheda

Run for the finish
The 4 J Class yachts run down for the finish, all crossing the line within 137 sec. Ranger first at 13.30.32 covering the coarse in 2hrs 20min 32 sec followed by Lionheart(2hrs 20min 44 sec; Rainbow 2hrs21 min 51 sec and Velsheda 2 hr 22min 45 sec

J Class Race 1
Ranger rounds the Windward mark off Yarmouth first followed by Lionheart, Rainbow and Velsheda 

J Class Race 1 Leeward leg
The Js rundown to the Leeward Mark, Ranger leading.

The J class Yachts Ranger , Velsheda and Rainbow manoeuvre for the start of the first race of the J Class Solent series on 18th July 2012
Wind SSW 20 knots sea building and tide out going,

  

 The J Class Ranger Velsheda and Lionheart take the start gun.

Rambler capsized after rounding the Fastnet Rock, it was found her keel dropped off . All her crew where rescued.

A selection of images of the super-maxi Rambler, beating out of the solent at the start of the 2011 Fastnet.

Rambler was launched as Speedboat in Auckland New Zealand in 2008. After an unsuccessful period of racing in the USA she was renamed Virgin Money and charted by Richard Branson for his attempt on the Trans Atlantic record.

3 years ago she was bought by American yachtsman George David. The yacht was extensively revamped in Newport RI and dubbed the fastest super-maxi in the world. It was intended for her to challange Bob Oatleys super-maxi Wild Oats XI 5 times winner of the Sydney to Hobart race for line honours for the 2011 Sydney to Hobart Race.

In the spring of 2011 she successfully won 3 out of 4 races in the Super-maxi Cup and later set a new Trans Atlantic record of 6 days 22 hours 8 min and 2 sec in a race from Newport RI to Lizard point defeating Ocean Leopard