Huge congratulations to Mark, Kevin and Will, winners of the MOCRA Racing class in the brutal Round the Island Race 2024 aboard Dragonfly 40

As an indication of the tough conditions they faced, only 154 yachts out of almost 1,000 entries completed the course.

The forecast had been deteriorating all week, and by Friday sustained winds of 30+ knots were expected south of the island. This coast is exposed to the Atlantic ocean, so the race organisers took the decision to cancel 8 classes of smaller boats. One was MOCRA B (LOA under 9.15m), including Dragonfly 25, 28 and 800.

The only MOCRA multihulls to start the race were Dragonfly 40 ‘Harley’ and Dragonfly 32 ‘Harriet’s Dream’. The first leg is upwind towards the Needles, where some of the worst sea conditions were expected. This is due to the tide pouring out the Solent, against the wind. Consequently, many boats turned back by then, including ‘Harriet’s Dream’.

The second leg was a rough reach to St Catherines, the most southern point on the island. Gusts well over 40 knots were recorded, and the tidal overfalls can be dangerous in strong winds.

Mark reports the Dragonfly 40 handled the rough conditions south of the island superbly and gave great confidence, even in gusts over 40 knots with breaking seas.

After Dunnose, leg 3 heads to Bembridge Ledge buoy. Here tired crews head back into the relative shelter of the eastern Solent. However, vigilance is still required in the gusty wind. Finally leg 4 from Ryde has the finish in sight.

This superb result is testament firstly to the crew’s great seamanship, but also to the design and build quality of the Dragonfly 40. Although our largest Dragonfly, Harley is by far the smallest of the 3 multihulls to complete the course. Line-honours winner ‘Highland Fling 18’ is a huge 80ft catamaran, with pro crew. Meanwhile 60ft racing trimaran ‘Oceans’ is skippered by multihull legend Francis Joyon, both single-handed and outright Round the World record-holder!

The MOCRA class race result is shown here

Finally, thanks to Paul Snook for the great photo of ‘Harley’ off Ryde, powering towards the finish.