Lymington XOD fleet Saturday Series Race 12
by Roy Froud 15 Jul 2014 11:04 BST
12 July 2014
Last Saturday's race saw 20 XODs enjoy a hard and wet beat to the windward mark, A, in a stiff South-westerly but on a strong ebb tide which made for lumpy seas. X32 Ibex, sailed by Paul Woodman and Oliver James, rounded first and made good her escape from the pack, never being threatened thereafter.
There was a slight divergence of opinion as to the better route to the next mark, Black Rock. William Norris's X178 Beatrix, taking the Island shore option, fared best and rounded second, followed by Robin Balme in X117, X-Ray, and Phil and Jo Brewer in X9, Zest. The next leg was a long run to D, south of the RLYC platform.
Two boats, Stuart Jardine's X119, Lone Star, and Ian Burr's X164 Diana tried a Great Circle Route (continue along the Island shore; then turn left) but without gaining any advantage. On the run X-Ray and Zest (which had kept slightly higher) overhauled Beatrix on the more direct route to D. There were very few tactical options thereafter on the course to F, T and then to the platform finish, and those positions were maintained to the end of the race.
Top Five results:
1st Ibex, Paul Woodman & Oliver James
2nd X-Ray, Robin Balme
3rd Zest, Phil & Jo Brewer
4th Beatrix, William Norris & Bill Dunsdon
5th Lone Star, Stuart Jardine
Full results can be found at rlymyc.org.uk/Sailing/Racing/Race_Results/XOD_Results.aspx