XOD class at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week - Day 2
by Mark Jardine 12 Aug 2012 21:16 BST
11-18 August 2012
Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week day 2 © Rick Tomlinson /
www.rick-tomlinson.com
On day two of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, the XOD fleet got away on the second attempt after a general recall from a start line near Hamble Yacht Services off the Lee-on-the-Solent shore.
The beat was up to a laid mark on the Bramble Bank, where the left side paid. Then followed a tight spinnaker reach to North Ryde Middle followed by a gybe onto a broad reach down to laid mark 'd' which was in the vicinity of where the start line was.
Then followed a short beat up to Flying Fish where the right paid due to the tide and a run down to Fastnet Insurance where the left paid due to stronger wind and more favourable tide.
The beat up to the Shrape finish line proved the most interesting with Willy McNeill on X123 'Lara' making a big gain going hard right up on the Bramble Bank and then coming into the finish line on starboard.
The defending champion, Andy Shaw on X186 'Phoenix', nearly blew it at the finish by first thinking the line was between the Committee Boat and the Black Group finish buoy, but he quickly realised his error and tacked back across towards the White Group buoy to take the victory cannon ahead of 'Lara' by 10 seconds with multi-time Victory champion John Tremlett on X80 'Lass' 3 seconds later taking third.
There are rumours that for Monday there could be a reaching start from the Squadron... which could be interesting!