Fast Cat Race 2009

Fast Cat Race 2009 sponsored by Tek Kat – Preview by Simon Northrop

This year’s edition of the fast cat race is shaping up to be a corker, racing starts on Friday with three round the cans races in the Solent and one can expect these to be fiercely contested by the F18s and Spitfires for the Handicap win.

Saturday is the day of the big one as the fleet will Endeavour to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight some 50 nautical miles in all and with many different challenges to overcome the race is anyone’s for the taking.

This year the big guns are out in force and favorite for line honors if the breeze is light has to be the new M20 Vampire of Will Sunnucks and Simon Farren, fresh from a debut line honors raid victory at carnac earlier this month this lightweight, 12 feet wide, all carbon monster will take some beating but it is not without competition as if the wind is moderate the Tek Kat of Jim Munday will be pushing for the spoils and if its windy no one would rule out a well sailed Tornado to challenge for the crown.

For the overall win this would be a very tough one to call but favorites would include the new F18 designs of the Shockwave from Loday White and the New Hobie Wildcat, with the Trusty Nacras and Capricorns more than capable of winning as would the Spitfires and Sproatfire from the smaller 16 foot fleet.

Sunday the regatta will be concluded by 3 more round the cans races in the Solent and prizes awarded for the 3 days races. With reduced entry fee of just £95.00 for the whole event and a good forecast for the weekend theres still time to enter so for more information check out www.tek-kat.co.uk/fastcatrace/index.html