Race Start Day - Sunday, 3 October 2004
Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Please note that all timings are provisional and subject to
change
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09:00 hrs
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Live Commentary around Gunwharf Quays
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10:30 hrs
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Blessing of the Fleet
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11:20 hrs
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Ceremonial departure of Global Challenge race yachts from
Gunwharf Quays
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11:30 hrs
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Parade of Sail out of the Harbour to Southsea Castle
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13:00 hrs
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Yachts enter the Start Box The Start Line will be between
a large flagpole on Southsea Castle and the committee boat
Condor to the south. The yachts will cross the start line
in a westerly direction.
Southsea Seafront, with its extensive shoreline, is a great
place to watch the Race Start from. For those on foot, the
Millennium Walk takes you directly from Gunwharf Quays to
Southsea Castle in about 30 minutes.
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13:50 hrs
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Lord Mayor fires 10-minute warning gun
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13:55 hrs
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5-minute warning signal
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13:59 hrs
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1-minute warning signal
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14:00 hrs
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RACE START, HRH Princess Royal fires Start Gun
A Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland will escort the fleet.
The yachts will cross the Solent and head along the Cowes
shore, before heading out through the Needles Fairway.
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15:00 hrs
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Southsea Castle re-opens to public
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Viewing Opportunities
From the Shore
In the morning there is the opportunity to take in the emotional
atmosphere at Gunwharf Quays, wave the yachts farewell, and then
follow the Millennium Walk around the coastline. This walk will
take spectators all the way to Southsea Castle, alongside the
shoreline where they can walk aside the yachts as they exit Portsmouth
Harbour in a Parade of Sail. The total walk takes approximately
30 minutes.
At Southsea Castle there is an extensive shoreline that provides
ample viewing of the start line, which is situated immediately
off the point. Family attractions will also be available at Southsea
Castle…and extra toilets!
The Millennium Walk goes from Loch Fyne in Gunwharf Quays up
to the funfair on the Seafront. From the funfair keep on walking
along the seafront and you will soon reach Southsea Castle to
watch the start! Look for the linked chain pattern on the pavement.
Afloat
The spectator fleet can watch all the action after the yachts
leave Gunwharf Quays and chase them out of the Solent after race
start.
The start line will be between a large flagpole on Southsea Castle
and the committee boat Condor to the south. The yachts will cross
the start line in a westerly direction. An inner distance mark
will be placed inshore marking the spectator boat channel and
keeping the racing yachts at a safe distance offshore.
The main Portsmouth Approach Channel will be closed to all traffic
(with the exception of the Wightlink Swashway traffic) from 13:50hrs
until 14:20 hrs when the competing yachts have cleared the Start
Corridor. A Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland will escort the fleet.
The first race marks will be North East Ryde Middle, North Ryde
Middle and West Ryde Middle to ensure that the fleet leaves Ryde
Middle to port. The fleet will then leave Prince consort and Gurnard
buoys to starboard to bring them close to Cowes for the benefit
of spectators.
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