XOD Autumn Series at Royal Lymington Yacht Club continues

Wind SSE 14 to 20 kts. Tide Ebbing

Once again an excellent turnout saw 21 boats at the start line. Condor 183 (Lawrie Smith) led off the line with Xoanon N1 and Madcap 5 in close attendance. In the beat to Black Rock, those boats heading straight across to the island shore did best and at the mark Condor led followed by Xoanon, Ibex 32 and Zest 9. Beatrix 178 in attempting to pinch up to the mark, lost way, and became trapped on the mark.

After Black Rock the fleet split Condor and Xoanon choosing to sail a diagonal easterly course to Pylewell inner, followed by a group of four boats led by Mersa 34. Another group led by Zest favoured a more westerly course to cross the tide as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Ibex, having gybed immediately after the mark, maintained a course east of the entire fleet.

At Pylewell inner Condor still led but Xoanon had been overtaken by Ibex, Zest and Mystery in that order. At the mark Ibex had difficulty dropping her spinnaker allowing Zest to slip through into second place. The leg to the gate became a close fetch and, as Mystery had delayed tacking at the mark, Xoanon was able to overtake into fourth place.

The race was sensibly shortened at the gate as the last two legs would have been a close fetch and beam reach.

Overall Results: