Monday Evening Dinghy Racing at Royal Lymington YC - Late Season Day 7

Lymington Monday Evening Dinghy Racing © Ann Brunskill

Summer at last

The RLymYC Monday Evening Dingy race team led by Ado Jardine and Steve Green took advantage of the north-westerly force 4 to 5 and ebbing tide to set decent long courses. The slower boats headed west of the river while the medium and fast handicaps went downwind to the east, blasting out towards Cowes on a fast spinnaker reach.

Isabella Drewitt comfortably won the Slow handicap fleet; having positioned her Laser 4.7 to windward of the other boats at the start, she extended her advantage all the way to the finish. Euan Etheridge and Ted Ward took the best angle for their spinnaker by starting in their Feva at the leeward end of the line; this tactic paid off to earn them second place, two minutes ahead of Ewan Horn's Laser 4.7.

The Medium fleet had a very close-fought battle on the water, John Claridge and Pete Sanders using their Seafly spinnaker to great effect on the long run against the tide, overhauling their faster handicapped rivals to lead by a small margin at the leeward mark. Richard Russell and Sylvia Weger in their Tasar eventually overtook to take line honours by a minute, but were second on handicap. Third was Keith Willis in his brand new K1, looking good for September's National Championships here in Lymington.

Luke and Emma McEwen made a clean start and led the fast fleet out of the river in their RS800. Nigel Walbank in his Musto Skiff made the most of the gusts out in the Solent to take the lead at the leeward mark, where the McEwens nearly capsized. On the second run the McEwens got their act together and pulled back to win. Neil and Clare Carden did well to take third place in their RS400, ahead of the rest of the trapeze boats.

Cowes Week and holidays reduced the Scow numbers and only 22 turned out on what was one of the best evenings of the summer so far. The westerly wind veered and strengthened, so the fleet which had started in 12-15 kts, finished stronger winds with gusts of over 20. This resulted in a beat up the river to the finish where many places were gained and lost in the final half mile.

Gordon Stredwick in led the Gold Fleet away from the line and remained in front throughout the race. Jonny Tait was close behind and Melissa Carrell crewed by younger daughter Portia was third. Karl Thorne recovered from a disastrous start to finish fourth while the Urwins suffered a near capsize when Mike lost his footing in a tack and they all but filled up, costing them a possible third place (They finished 6th).

In Silver Fleet Pel Bruce lead from start to finish only to learn that he had been over the line at the start. First place went to Chris Knox with Dubbie Robinson and Pam Bettridge finished second and newcomers Sonia Goacher and Carol Maskell third.

Full results at rlymyc.org.uk/OnTheWater/Racing/Race_Results.aspx