Coronation Cup and Wednesday Series at Lymington Town Sailing Club
by Alastair Beeton 10 Sep 2013 14:07 BST
4 & 8 September 2013
David Gautier's Contender 675 during the Lymington Town SC Coronation Cup © Adrian Baker
Coronation Cup sailed in freshening conditions
It was all action at Lymington Town Sailing Club last weekend as in addition to an Open Day and the annual Bath Race, the annual Coronation Cup race was sailed. Twelve boats entered the event which sees crews complete a long distance course around the Western Solent.
Race Officer, Tig Williams, decided to select course B which sends boats from the start, east to 'Tanners' then across the Solent to 'Hampstead Ledge' before going west to 'Black Rock' and then back across the Solent to 'Pennington Dunford' and the finish.
The wind was a pleasant ten knots at the start, and increased to a steady 12 knots throughout the morning. A strong tide enabled the slower boats to catch up the faster craft as the race progressed. By midday it was clear that the wind was going to freshen further and a decision was made to finish the boats at Black Rock to enable them sail straight home. This was a good call as by 13:30hrs the wind peaked at 19 knots providing some exciting and challenging conditions for the return crossing.
Coronation Cup Results: (top three)
1st Peter Barton & Heather Chipperfield (RS500)
2nd Matthew Thomas & Steve Nicholas (RS400)
3rd Tim Knight (Laser)
Sun sets over LTSC Wednesday 2013 Series
The wind was on the verge of being non existent on Wednesday evening as competitors started to arrive for the start of the final Wednesday evening race. Junior race officer Liam Willis set a short course with a warning to sailors to take a paddle!
A light breeze did come up for the start of the racing which allowed the classes to slowly make their way down river against the tide. Starting first, the fast fleet benefited most from the evening breeze and managed 2 laps of the course before being sent home from 'Jack in the Basket'. The Wayfarers and Medium fleets only achieved one lap. Of the 20 boats to start, all but 2 completed the course without the need to resort to paddling. By the time the last boats rounded 'Jack in the Basket' the sun was starting to set and most of the boats were benefitting from a flooding tided to bring them home.
Wednesday Evening Series Race 10 Results:
Fast Fleet
1st Giles Chipperfield (D-1)
2nd Gary Stones & Hannah Parr (RS400)
3rd Tig Williams (RS600)
Medium Fleet
1st Nigel & Suzie Brooke (Merlin Rocket)
2nd Mike Saqui (RS200)
3rd Richard Felstead & Suzie Fridd (2000)
Slow Fleet
1st Harry Fitzsimmons & Saun Woodhouse (Cadet)
2nd Robby Boyd (RS Tera Pro)
3rd Jonny Tait (RS Tera Pro)
Wayfarers
1st Clive Taylor & Darren Stones
2nd Mick Ellis & John Vale
3rd John Sims & Tony Christopher
Wednesday Evening Series Overall Results:
Fast Fleet
1st Luke & Emma McEwen (RS800)
2nd John Cooper & Becci Wigley (RS400)
3rd Nigel Walbank (Musto Skiff)
Medium Fleet
1st Richard Russell (RS100)
2nd Stuart Watson (Blaze)
3rd Mark Barwell & Louise Johnson (Merlin Rocket)
Slow Fleet
1st Robby Boyd (RS Tera Pro)
2nd Suzanne Sutherland & Yve Blatchford (LR Scow)
3rd Jonny Tait (RS Tera Pro)
Wayfarers
1st Clive Taylor & Darren Stones
2nd John Stevens & Oliver Dunne
3rd Mick Ellis & John Vale