Lymington Town Sailing Club Coronation Cup
by Richard Lilley 13 Oct 2015 17:37 BST
11 October 2015
McEwens win LTSC Solent Series
Blue skies and a 14 knot breeze greeted the twenty-two dinghies which contested the 2015 LTSC Coronation Cup, the final race of the LTSC Solent Trophy Series, on a predetermined course that circumnavigated the Western Solent.
The start was keenly contested. Too keenly by some boats including Julie Willis, in her RS Vareo, who found herself a boat length over the line, at the gun, and had to restart.
The race team of Richard Lilley and Declan Clamp set the course clockwise so as to afford the slower boats as much relief from the gathering tide as possible.
The fleet headed off to the East and the first mark off the Beaulieu foreshore before crossing the Solent. At this point the race was decided for the less experienced who made directly for the island shore and found themselves caught in the deep water and unable to make the mark as the tide was now running hard.
Meanwhile the front runners were around Hampstead Ledge, including Richard Russell and Sylvia Weger (Tasar) who were ahead of the faster RS400s.
Father and son team Steve and William Homewood, in their Trimaran overhauled Luke and Emma McEwen (RS800) to take line honours with Pete Conway and Tig Williams close behind in the International 14.
When the handicaps were applied it was the McEwens, in first place, from Russell Russell and Sylvia Weger, in second place, with the Homewoods in third.
With 12 year old William Homewood and the octogenarian Pete Conway in the top three boats to finish age it would appear is no barrier to success!
Solent Series Trophy Results: (three races)
1st Luke & Emma McEwen (RS800) 2pts
2nd Richard Russell & Sylvia Weger (Tasar) 4pts
3rd Rob & Jan Martin (RS400) 5pts
Racing continues at LTSC this weekend with the start of the Winter Series. This week there will be 2 races sailed back to back.