Nordic Folkboat Lymington Saturday Series - Race 14
by Chris Baldwick 19 Sep 2016 22:33 BST
17 September 2016
A small fleet of seven Nordic Folkboats turned out for the penultimate race of the Royal Lymington YC Saturday Series 2016.
With a northerly wind gusting up to 24 knots, the start from the Platform was a spinnaker run to number 2 buoy (George Hotel) off the green at Yarmouth. There was tight racing under spinnaker in the fresh breeze across the Solent. At this mark the fleet were within a boat length of one another making for a close rounding into the fierce ebb tide.
A reach up the Island shore to mark 4 provided little chance to change places, although Lady Linda managed to squeeze ahead of Bonnie who had elected to sail a longer route closer to the shore, hoping to avoid the worst of the adverse tide.
The course then took the fleet back across the Solent to the mainland shore to mark C (Colten). This leg was where getting the tactics right paid dividends.
Tak and Crackerjack appeared locked into their own private match racing battle, and tacked mid Solent for mark C. Bonnie then had the chance to continue alone, lee-bowing the strong ebb tide further across the Solent before tacking and arriving at mark C with a good lead.
This leg set the final result in place, despite various attempts at different tactics to change the result on the next two legs. At the finish it was a win for Bonnie, followed by Crackerjack, Tak and Bossa Nova in that order.
A great sail in a good breeze and unseasonably warm September sun for those who turned out.
Series results on the Royal Lymington Yacht Club website.