Lymington XOD fleet Saturday Series Race 1
by Roy Froud 20 Apr 2015 16:29 BST
18 April 2015
The first Saturday race was sailed in perfect conditions in a good easterly breeze of 12-22 knots on a strengthening spring ebb tide and glorious sunshine.
Eight XODs took to the water. Race Officer Malcolm McKaeg set a windward leeward course starting from a Committee Boat by the platform going on a long beat eastwards against the tide to Tanners rounded to starboard and then back to a moveable mark just west of the river mouth, back through the start gate for a second lap finishing at the moveable mark.
The key decision was which end of the line to start. The ageless Ado Jardine in Lucrezia opted for the shoreline end and quickly opened up a lead over Rory Paton in XL, Robin Balme in X Ray, David da Cunha in Mayday and Paul Woodman in Ibex. All these boats were vying for position on the beat out to mark G, Bridgefords, only for a cruiser to sail right through the fleet making the leaders take avoiding action. This was a shame and could easily have been avoided by the cruiser.
Lucrezia rounded Tanners first followed by XL, X Ray, Mayday and Ibex. The downwind leg was very quick and the second beat uneventful with no place changes save that Lonestar sailed by Stuart Jardine managed to pass Ibex to finish 5th.
Congratulations to the Race Team for an excellent course on a beautiful day to start the XOD racing season.
Results:
1st Lucrezia (Adrian Jardine)
2nd XL (Rory Paton)
3rd X Ray (Robin Balme)
4th Mayday (David da Cunha)
5th Lonestar (Stuart Jardine)