But don’t be fooled. This race is never easy. Wind or not, the tide off the south coast of England always has a say: dodging foul currents off St Alban’s Head, Start Point, the Lizard, and Land’s End is just as much part of the game as catching a shift. Then there’s the final sting in the tail: the Alderney Race, churning through the finish approach into Cherbourg. The course remains a game of threading needles — and this year’s TSS dance is as tricky as ever.