Royal Lymington Yacht Club Duo Series - Day 3
by Hannah Neve 9 Jul 2014 17:19 BST
5 July 2014
Duo Racers powering off the start line in race 3 of the RLymYC Duo Series © Hannah Neve
After a variable feast of weather during the week, both experienced and predicted, it looked like the race officers had clearly picked a start and duration time to maximise (for them) breakfast and a finish in time to watch the Ladies Final at Wimbledon, but actually it was to allow the worst of the rain and wind to go through and to get the crews back before they got worn out!
It was still pretty windy and that put a lot of boats off but 8 hardy Duo teams ventured out onto a Solent stirred up by gusts of over 25knts from the South West. Racing was good and occasionally a little exhilarating, but lack of crew numbers deterred the use of spinnakers on the relatively short downwind, down tide legs for LH3 from Echopilot to Solent Bank and Dunfords to Solent Bank. IRC1 boats Jelly Baby and Jin Tonic were braver and launched their asymmetrics for a fast downwind leg from Echopilot to Hamstead Ledge followed by another from Echopilot to Quod Possumus! The beats proved more taxing however with everyone having to struggle against the tide short tacking all the way.
The Solent was quiet with not much significant shipping around to disturb the chosen courses, other than a large tugboat who did seem to want to join in for a while – 'Power gives way to sail' - right? - but sometimes discretion is better than valour, particularly when shorthanded!
Technical problems took their toll of High Spirit and Herbie, and the continuing strong wind favoured Aventurera who finished 1st both on the water and on handicap followed by Unity and Dynamic. In IRC 1 Jelly Baby showed a clean pair of heels to Jin Tonic to take the win. The crews were very pleased when it was over and they could relax in the bar and watch the Ladies Final!
Results can be found at rlymyc.org.uk/Sailing/Racing/Race_Results.aspx