Lymington XOD fleet Saturday Series Race 2
by Roy Froud 27 Apr 2015 14:15 BST
25 April 2015
This week, the other Jardine twin leads the way!
An excellent turnout of 15 XODs competed in the second race of the Saturday Series which was held in 10 – 15 knots from the SSE with a flood tide. The race team of Nigel Thomas, Wendy Trundle and Steve Green set an excellent course with a challenging long first beat against the tide up to mark A, just off Hurst, which saw the fleet short tacking up the mainland shore to the West of Lymington. One or 2 boats pushed it a bit too hard and touched the bottom, including the fleet captain, Karl Thorne, in Mersa!
The racing was close with Stuart Jardine, in Lone Star and Rory Paton XL having a having a close battle for the lead, hotly pursued by John Oliff-Cooper in Excalibur and young Max Crowe in Claire de Lune. Lone Star made it to the windward mark first and the fleet then went on a long downwind leg to mark H, Jacksons, back up to mark C, Colten, down to mark E and then up the river for a Club finish. The upwind leg from H to C made the teams decide whether to take a route inshore where the tide had turned or to stay offshore for more breeze. Opinions were divided on the best course!
Lone Star managed to hold onto the lead all the way to the finish, although XL was pushing hard and never far behind.
Saturday Series Race 2 Results: (top five)
1st Lone Star (Stuart Jardine)
2nd XL (Rory Paton)
3rd Claire de Lune (Max Crowe)
4th Ibex (Paul Woodman & Oliver James)
5th Excalibur (John Cooper)
Full results can be found here.