Lymington XOD fleet Wednesday Series Race 10

Xoanon wins race 10 of the Lymington XOD Wednesday Series © RLymYC

In a very pleasant and consistent 10 knot SW breeze, the race team of John Trundle, Wendy Trundle and Wendy Jardine set a very good course with a long first beat to Black Rock mark to the west of Yarmouth, followed by a long run to mark G, Bridgefords, off the Pylewell shore followed by a further windward / leeward leg on the mainland side of the Solent before a finish at Royal Lymington Yacht Club.

Starting against a flooding tide, the crews of sixteen boats on the start line had to decide whether to track upwind along the mainland shore, where the tide would be weakest, before crossing the Solent towards Yarmouth, or alternatively to cross to the Yarmouth side and then work up the Island shore. The pin end of the line appeared to be favoured and many boats contested this end of the line whilst those nearer the starting platform had the benefit of clearer wind and more freedom as to when they made their first tack. Eight boats took the mainland shore route, staying well inshore, with Xoanon N1 helmed by Paul Fisher and Quest X53 helmed by Jay Devonshire leading this inshore group. Further offshore but still on the mainland side, Red Coral X57 helmed by Roy Froud, was the first to tack towards the Island, but despite a favourable lift as she approached Black Rock was swept down by the stronger tide in the channel and was some 50m below the mark. Lone Star X119 helmed by Stuart Jardine was first of the group of eight to turn towards the Island, from a point to the west of end of Oxey Lake, but fell 20 m short of Black Rock.

After an eventful first leg for the mainland group, Venus X72 helmed by Nik Froud rounded Black Rock first having sailed a lower but faster course across the Solent and overtaking a couple of boats to leeward on her route across. Venus has closely pursued by Xoanon, Quest, Lone Star, Perspephone X92 helmed by Richard Field and Condor, X183 helmed by Phil Hutchinson.The three boats that had ventured the direct route to the Island rounded a minute or so after.

Spinnakers were set for the downwind leg towards mark G with those taking the initially lower route, and thereby staying in the stronger flood tide for longer, gaining the advantage.

Between the remaining marks of B to E and then to mark Z north of the platform there were changes of places from first down to eighth and two boats finished in a dead heat at the Club finish line. However, at the finish it was Xoanon that took line honours.

Race 10 Results: (top five)

1st N1 Xoanon - Paul Fisher
2nd X53 Quest - James McGill
3rd X72 Venus - Nik Froud
4th X119 Lone Star - Stuart Jardine
5th X183 Condor - Phil Hutchinson

Full results can be found here.