WHITSTABLE Yacht Club officials will be casting anxious eyes on weather forecasts as they prepare to run the annual Forts Race at the weekend. Although one of the premier events on the UK Catamaran programme, there have been occasions when wind conditions have dictated its success and plans to use the former anti-aircraft platforms in the Thames Estuary as racing marks have had to be abandoned.

One problem has been that the race has always been held on a Sunday, but this year it is being brought forward to Saturday to leave the club with a spare day. Another innovation is that the course has been re-designed to give the race officer the option of shortening it during any one of three stages.

The first leg will see competitors heading out to the Forts before returning to a gate of the club which they will sail through to begin the second stage into the Swale. Returning through the gate, they will then complete a third stage to Reculver and back to the finish.

Race organiser Nick Dewhirst said if conditions were right crews would sail all three stages. Should the wind increase or die away, then the race could be cut to two, or even one, if it were necessary.

He added: "Putting in the gate means spectators can get a close view of the competitors from the end of the harbour east quay as the race progresses. It is due to get under way at 1pm but there should be action on the water from 12.30 onwards."