SLAM X-Yachts Solent Cup at the Royal Southern Yacht Club
by Guy Jackson 11 May 2011 11:00 BST
6-8 May 2011
SLAM X-Yachts Solent Cup © Mike Jones, Waterline Media
The 2011 SLAM X-Yachts Solent Cup was well attended with 26 X-Yachts competing for the Overall Solent Cup. There were X-Yachts ranging from the popular X-302 to the new Xp 44. With over 250 competitors taking part, there was a fantastic atmosphere ashore as well as fierce competition on the race course.
Friday evening saw the weather break after the incredibly dry April and May we have experienced. Thunder and lightening rumbled around the Solent and “the heavens opened”. The competitors and event organisers were not going to let the weather get the better of them and then event kicked off with the B & G Crew Party and BBQ. Partygoers enjoyed pints of the new addition
X-Yachts Bitter, supplied by Robinson Brewery. The complimentary barrel was drained at record speed!
X-Yachts competed in three classes; Open Sports Class A, Open Sports Class B and Family Class. The two sports classes raced a conventional windward leeward course, while the Family Class had two round the can races on Saturday and a Pursuit Race on the Sunday. The Pursuit Race was a new addition for the Family Class in 2011.
Racing got underway on Saturday 7th May at 10.30 hrs, with a shifty 10-15 knots of breeze from the South East and a strong east going tide. As a result, upwind tactics favoured the stronger tide on the right hand side of the course. The initial plan was for 4 races for the Sports Classes on Saturday, however with a dying and shifty wind by noon, the Race Committee sent competitors ashore after the third race.
Saturday was the first day that the new Xp 44 was unleashed onto the race course. The Xp 44 was not included in the overall results but did win all three races on Saturday comfortably on corrected time. Meanwhile Mike Daily’s X-46, Ntanda scored two first places and a fourth.
The family class enjoyed seven entries, including Brian Carlton’s new Xc 38. Race one was won by John Oldridge’s Xc 45. Oldridge’s Xc 45 showed good speed and tactical decisions throughout the regatta and went onto winning the Family class for a second year in a row.
When competitors arrived back to the pontoons, they were greeted by a fleet of Remote Control Lasers. Competitors enjoyed some lively racing from the banks of the River Hamble, with a pint of X-Yachts bitter in hand!
On Saturday evening the X-Yachts Owners Association was launched with a champagne reception for owners and their guests. Guy Jackson gave a speech explaining the benefits available to members of the Owners Association. This was followed by the X-Yachts Solent Cup Dinner which was open to all X-Yacht owners and competitors. After dinner YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year 2010, Geoff Holt addressed a packed dining room. Geoff gave an interesting and inspirational speech and was awarded with a standing ovation.
Sunday’s conditions provided competitors a perfect forecast to get the best performance out of their X-Yachts. A gusty 20 knots of breeze from the south and sun breaking through the clouds greeted the fleet in the central Solent. What more could a sailor ask for?!
The first race for Sports Class A got away cleanly and Mike Daly’s X-46 got a clear lead over the fleet and went on to win by a comfortable margin. Daly’s team also “cleaned up” in the second race of the day ensuring a strong victory in Sports Class A.
The ever eager Sports Class B competitors, pushing for a place at the committee boat end of the line, lead to a general recall for the class. On their second attempt there was an individual recall for one owner. Sports Class B saw some competitive racing between Iain Kirkpatrick’s X-37 and Tim Symth’s X-34 and Peter Hodkinsons’s X-362. After five races it was Iain Kirkpatricks X-37 who won the class and also claimed the X-Yachts Solent Cup Trophy. After a great day of racing competitors returned to the Royal Southern Yacht Club for a post racing snack and prize giving.
X-Yachts would like to thank the support of their title sponsor SLAM UK and supporting sponsors B & G, Pantaenius, North Sails, CrewFuel, Volvo UK, Harken, SailTek.
The date and venue for the 2012 X-Yachts Solent Cup will be announced shortly. For further photos from the event please visit X-Yachts Facebook
Overall Results:
Overall Winner
X-37, Ian Kirkpatrick
Open Sports Class A
1st X-46 Mike Daly
2nd X-40 Nick Mulholland
3rd X-43 Richer Cross
Open Sports Class B
1st X-37 Iain Kirkpatrick
2nd X-34 Tim Smyth
3rd X-362 Peter Hodgkinson
Family Class
1st Xc 45 John Oldridge
2nd X-40 Richard Fanning
3rd Xc 38 Bryan Carlton