XOD Points Week at Itchenor Sailing Club

Tony Probert’s 'Madame X' rocking and rolling during Itchenor XOD Points Week © Anne Colbourne

Some two dozen Itchenor XODs took part in last week’s annual Points Week. Although boats and sailors took a battering from the strong winds there was little damage to either. This is a testament to these tough classic boats and those who sail them. Monday’s race was postponed until Wednesday morning so the first races of the week were on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning saw a brief lull in the strong winds that enabled a single handed race to be run for the “Lone Star trophy”. John Tattersall won in “Harmony”. Second and third were class captain Bill Barnes in “Gone Away” and David Priscott helming “Thora”.

The trophy for the afternoon race was the newly commissioned “Measurer’s Model” presented by his family in memory of Frank Powell who was XOD class measurer up until his death in February. In a keenly fought race in strengthening winds the eventual winner was X101 “Thora” (Ted Roose, Chris Blevins and David Priscott), closely followed by X192 and X171.

Wednesday morning saw the continuing pattern of strong West to South West winds – but not too strong to deter the large fleet from racing in the morning for the 75th Anniversary Bowl. Tidal tactics proved decisive for the crew of X171 “Chartreuse” (Colin McKinnon, Ros Hart and David Foster) as they led the race from the first weather mark. Peter Taylor with Mimie Currey and Peter Morton in X192 “Felix” was again second.

With increasing wind strength race officer Roger Wickens moved the afternoon race up harbour to Chichester Lake which at high tide allowed an excellent windward-leeward course in somewhat flatter water. The dozen crews who braved the conditions experienced a particularly exciting “rock and roll” downwind leg as the photograph of Tony Probert’s “Madame X” demonstrates.

Racing was for the “Skua Trophy” and the improving X71 “Wenda” – 4th on Tuesday, 3rd in the morning – was the winner after a neck and neck dual with the Lawrence brothers’ X26 “Catherine”. “Wenda” is now owned and sailed by reigning European International 14 champion Damian Ash. This is another example of leading sailors from other classes turning to the XOD for challenging racing.

Over the three races that counted for the “Benson Platter” “Chartreuse” was first with 7 points, one ahead of “Wenda” with “Thora” third a further point behind.

Itchenor XOD Points Week Results:

1 “Chartreuse” (Colin McKinnon, Ros Hart, David Foster) 7 points
2 “Wenda” (Damian and Peter Ash, Adrian Murphy) 8 points
3 “Thora” (Ted Roose, Chris Blevins, David Priscott) 9 points
4 “Felix” (Peter Taylor, Mimie Currey, Peter Morton) 9 points
5 “Lafia” (Robin Bromley Martin, Julia Plumstead, Nick Blevins) 18 points
6 “Falconet” (Alan Perry, Ron Parker) 19 points