XODs at Itchenor Keelboat Week
by David Priscott 25 Jun 2023 19:58 BST
19-23 June 2023
XODs at Itchenor Keelboat Week © Chris Hatton Photography /
www.chrishattonphotography.co.uk
Champagne sailing is often an overworked phrase. Well, if you have South Westerlies of Force 3 or 4, a clear blue sky and Chichester Harbour at high tide, that is what you have. And so it was for the 22 XODs that raced in Itchenor Keelboat Week.
The courses set by race officer, and XOD Class Captain, David McGregor were exemplary giving the fleet options to various marks.
The main protagonists during the week were Captain's Cup winners from Cowes 2022, Messrs Faulkner, McGrane and Calder in Swallow visiting from Hamble vying with local champions, Astralita (Graham, Copsey, and Tremlett), Xcitation (Yeoman, Moss, and Llewelyn) and Madeleine (Fulford, Buckley and Clarke). First blood on Monday went to Madeleine with Penny Fulford choosing the right-hand side for the first windward leg to pop out ahead of Astralita and Xcitation. This was a position she was not about to give up, she did not and took line honours.
The rest of the week's first places went; Astralita, Xcitation, Astralita, and Xcitation. Swallow was never far away counting a series of 3rd and 4th places to take third place overall behind Astralita and Xcitation.
But the Itchenor regatta is not just about the podium places. Many close tussles took place during the week throughout the fleet with several crews putting in consistent results. Particular mention should be made of Relaxation steered by Nick Andrews in only his second season in XODs scoring four fourteenth place to win the Onward Cup.
Overall Results: (top three)
1st Astralita - Fraser Graham, Tim Copsey and John Tremlett - 6pts
2nd Xcitation - Roger Yeoman, Mike Moss, and Jeremy Llewelyn - 10pts
3rd Swallow - Richard Faulkner, Ben McGrane, and Hamish Calder - 10pts