XOD Series at Royal Lymington Yacht Club - Week 5
by Fenella Lees 25 May 2010 15:45 BST
19 & 22 May 2010
XOD Wednesday Series Race 4 (19th May 2010)
Ideal sailing conditions with a consistent light SW wind, a flattish sea approaching the top of the tide saw 15 XODs come to the starting line for the 4th race of the Wednesday series. The first windward leg to Pennington buoy took the boats inshore and the battle for the lead was joined by the Jardine twins in Lucrezia (Adrian) and Lone Star (Stuart), on the reach to Lymington Bank.
Rounding to the east the leaders were threatened by Diana (Rory Paton) with spinnakers set for the long leg to Yngling Girls on the last of the flood tide. These three jostled for position on the beat to Berthon where Diana managed to sneak into second place.
A short run to the last mark, Rib-it.com followed with Lone Star misjudging the tide which was starting to ebb. However she recovered her second place on the beat to the platform finish to Lucrezia who led all the way and Diana who finished third. The race committee was later congratulated on setting a challenging course.
Wednesday Series Race 4 Results: (top six)
1st Lucrezia, Ado Jardine
2nd Lone Star, Stuart Jardine
3rd Diana, Rory Patonv
4th Xenon, John Oliff Cooper & Steward Dunlop
5th Red Coral, Robert Young
6th Claire de Lune, Ian Burr
XOD Saturday Series Race 5 (22nd May 2010)
Light flukey conditions faced the 18 XODs who came to the line to race in the 5th Saturday points race. The first short weather leg to ODM from a line set to the east of the platform saw Rory Paton in Diana, X164, rounding first to take a sizeable lead on the next leg to Jacksons on the east-going tide.
As the wind lightened and gently veered to the SW, planned runs became reaches and beats and the fleet made many position changes in the fickle and light wind.
Automatic shortening of the race took place at Berthon and headed straight for the finishing line at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Robin Balme in X-Ray, X117, sailed round most of the fleet to take line honours with Ado Jardine in Lucrezia, X140, a minute later in second place and Diana 3rd, 3 minutes behind the winner.
Saturday Series Race 5 Results: (top six)
1st X-Ray, Robin Balme
2nd Lucrezia, Ado Jardine
3rd Diana, Rory Paton
4th Zest, Rick Walters
5th Mayday, David da Cuhna
6th Lone Star, Stuart Jardine