As the main body of the fleet rounds the needles and the the wind drops further, the boats are finding themselves in the lee of the rocks with the added problem of the tide turning onto ebb. This has caused absolute chaos with this part of the solent now reminiscent of a gridlocked M25.

The tide is pushing the boats onto the Valvassi wreck, and sailors are getting their fenders out to avoid smashing into the hundreds of boats now piled up at this point with no way past now the tide has turned. Boats are rafted up against each other in a long line from the needles lighthouse with spinnakers falling everywhere. Many compeitiors have made the decision to start up their engines and retire from the race in order to avoid a big insurance claim. Stay tuned for more news soon.

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