Dates
10 Apr 2027
Duration
1.3 days
Distance
35 nm
Location
Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble
About
JOG's early-season Solent opener — race C1 in the 2026 JOG Coastal Series.
The Lewmar Lonely Tower Race is JOG's traditional season-opener — a day race from Cowes round Nab Tower (off the eastern Solent) and back. Per the JOG 2026 NoR, the course is approximately 35 nm, Category 4. First start 10:00 on Saturday 21 March.
A friendly day race with most boats home in time for dinner ashore. A good first JOG event for crew new to club racing or ramping up for the offshore season.
This race sounds great?
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Race programme
Saturday brief · 10:00 start · race round Nab Tower · home by evening.
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Race programme
Saturday brief · 10:00 start · race round Nab Tower · home by evening.
Saturday morning — brief & dock-out
by 08:30Crew arrive Mercury Yacht Harbour. Skipper brief, kit check, sail to Cowes start area.
Saturday — first start
10:00Race starts off Cowes. Course out toward Nab Tower (eastern Solent) and return.
Saturday afternoon — finish & ashore
Most boats finish mid-afternoon. Sail back to Mercury Yacht Harbour. Drinks ashore optional.
Good to know
Meeting point
Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble-le-Rice, SO31 4HQ. We meet on the pontoon by your assigned berth — your skipper will share the berth number and a location pin in the crew WhatsApp group the week before.
Arrival
- Arrive by the start time shown on this event page.
- Subject to availability you can arrive the night before, arrange with the team
Parking
Free at Mercury, except Round the Island Race weekend.
Crew WhatsApp
Set up by the Wednesday before. Confirms timings, weather, destination berth.
Before you arrive
- Emergency contact, medical info and waiver in your dashboard profile.
- International races: upload passport details.
Essential
- Waterproof sailing jacket + salopettes
- Sailing boots (deck shoes only OK for inshore day races)
- Warm base layers (no cotton) + mid-layer fleece
- Hat and sailing gloves
- Sun hat, sunglasses with retainer, sun cream
- Head torch with red-light mode (any night sailing or offshore)
- Personal medication
- Sea-sickness remedy (taken 30 mins before the start)
- Water bottle and snacks for the day
- Soft holdall or dry bag — no hard suitcases
Overnight
- 3-4 season sleeping bag (no bedding provided)
- Toiletries, change of clothes, quick-dry towel
Offshore / double-handed
- Notebook for debrief
- Passport for cross channel races
Provided
- Life jackets and safety kit
- Charts, AIS, VHF (+ satcom offshore)
- Galley kit, water, tea, coffee
- Homebase Mooring fees
- Insurance (Security and damage deposit held for Bareboat Charters)
Not provided
Food and snacks aboard — bring your own, or shared crew food order on overnight / offshore (cost shared, leftovers taken home).
Leave behind
Hard suitcases, hair dryers, excess alcohol.
Who can join
- Beginner — all experience levels welcome
Questions
What's on the boat vs what I bring?
What if the weather is bad?
I'm sea-sick prone — can I still come?
I don't have a partner — can I still book?
Can I arrive the night before?
How do I cancel or change my booking?
More with Cal Finlayson
Interested in this race?
£450 · Sat 10 Apr