Royal Lymington Yacht Club Champion of Champions

Rick Otten and Johnny Nordant on X34 lead the fleet to the top mark in the RLymYC Champion of Champions © Hannah Neve

This very popular event took place on Saturday 12th October. As in previous years, 10 very kind XOD owners lent their boats and themselves to the best racer from each of the Club's classes and one designs for the Club Champion of Champions event. The racing consisted of 3 races of 2 laps each with each race being a snappy 30 minutes long.

The forecast had been looking very unkind, but during the event there was an unusual ENE wind of around 13 knots with gusts up to 16 knots; it was also sunny, which is always a bonus! With a fairly steady wind direction the Race Team were able to lay the course with a beat to the first mark, then round a wing mark to make sure that the downwind leg was as near to a dead run as possible and it also meant the marks did not need moving between races. The first race involved a beat against the ebb tide but the tide started to turn just as the second race was starting.

The comprehensive winner was Rick Otten sailing with his crew Johnny Mordant representing Class 2 LH on Karl Thorne's XOD Mersa which won all 3 races. The second place was decided just as emphatically; Rory Paton with crew Adrian Summers representing the XOD fleet sailed Derek Tilley's Xoanon to three second places. James Dodd's XL sailed by Christian Sutherland and Jo Elliott representing Class 2 IRC managed to post a 6th and two 3rds, and Chris Baldwick and Chris Hills on John Miller's Mystery representing the Folkboats also got onto the podium with a third in the first race.

The splendid cup was awarded to the winning crew during the evening's Annual Prize Giving Party together with the Club mugs as keeper prizes.