Touareg Laser SB3 Grand Prix at Royal Lymington Yacht Club

Action from the Touareg SB3 Grand Prix in Lymington © Eddie Mays

Action from the Touareg SB3 Grand Prix in Lymington © Eddie Mays

The final event of the Laser SB3 Volkswagen Touareg Grand Prix series took place in Lymington over the weekend of the 7th and 8th July. Hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, the conditions were almost perfect, 15 – 20 knots of breeze, sunshine and 120 keen sailors all trying to stop the winning streak of the European champion Geoff Carveth sailing ‘Palava’. But to no avail, Geoff won four of the six races.

Champagne sailing conditions greeted the competitors on Saturday morning and Principal Race Officer, Roger Wilson, sent them off on a two lap 1.2 mile course. A big wind-shift when the boats were coming into the first mark kept everyone on their toes, but Toby Litton sailing ‘Speed’ stayed in front to take the first line honours of the day.

The Royal Lymington’s new committee boat had its first encounter with an SB3 on the second race, but that didn’t stop Geoff taking his first win of the weekend. Another wind-shift after the second race saw the committee boat moving further inshore and the entire course relayed in a very respectable 20 minutes. Race three once again saw Geoff Carveth in the lead, hotly pursued by Catherine Summerhayes and the all-girl crew in ‘Team Maclaren’.

Sunday brought more sunshine but for the first time in what seems like weeks, no wind. After an hour’s postponement, the fourth race had the fleet champing at the bit and consequently there was a general recall. They all behaved with the black flag hoisted and a tactical race with the tide split the fleet in two. Once again Carveth led them around the course, again with Team Maclaren in hot pursuit.

John Outhwaite in ‘Baloo’ notched up his best score of the weekend for race five which once again saw the fleet taking different sides of the course. The black flag rule was still in place for race six and saw Dominic Akers-Douglas in ‘Sybarite’ and Rory Barr in ‘Silverback’ taking an early bath. Geoff again led the pack with Catherine snapping at his heels.

Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show generously sponsored bottles of whiskey for the first three in each race. Carveth and crew managed five, Team Maclaren had four and Team Touareg three!

Praise for the Race Committee came from many competitors at the prize giving. The entire race management was slick, with good start lines, marks moved when necessary and clear signaling giving the competitors fair and exciting racing. The presence of an on-the-water judge each day gave the competitors less time in the protest room and more time in the bar and thanks must go to the weather God who gave everyone such beautiful conditions.

Overall Results: