Lymington XOD fleet Saturday Series Race 6
by Roy Froud 2 Jun 2014 10:50 BST
31 May 2014
Mersa in control
A fleet of 23 XODs took to the water for Saturday's race and were given a lesson in 'how to do it' by Alex Hayman (who normally crews) helming X34 Mersa.
With an ebbing tide and south-westerly sea breeze filling in shortly before the start, the pin end was significantly favoured with a short fetch to the first mark D (Yachthaven) and so all 24 boats contested this favoured end of the line. Mersa popped through the melee on the gun and established an early lead.
There was a lot of jostling for inside position at the mark, with a lot of boats having sailed too high. Turning into the tidal stream for the run down to mark G (Bridgefords) caused the fleet to bunch up making it tricky to keep clear air and encouraged the boats to split. The majority sailed a more inshore route into less tide, with Mersa leading the way, followed by X164 Diana and X140 Lucrezia, whilst William Norris in X178 Beatrix led a smaller group into the deeper water looking for stronger wind. In the end there was little to choose between the two courses.
Robin and Louise Balme in X117 X-Ray showed good speed to join the leaders, with Max Crowe in X33 Claire De Lune and Stephen Whiteman in X42 Julia also pushing hard. A beat back up to mark D, followed by a downwind leg to E (Folkboats) and back to the finish gate completed the first lap of the course, which was repeated in a freshening breeze. Many boats were sailing two up and were wondering if a third pair of hands might turn the tables or allow a break for a spot of sunbathing downwind!
X32 Ibex, helmed by Paul Woodman, was steadily munching up the ground to windward and rounding the windward mark for the last time she joined Beatrix, hot on the heels of the leaders, whilst Mersa continued to control the race from the front. X9 Zest, sailed by husband and wife team Phil and Jo Brewer, and Claire De Lune followed these onto the final run, with Zest finding good pressure closer to the shore and turning the last mark in 4th. With a good tide pushing boats on to windward, Mersa was able to keep a comfortable eye on the chasing boats to cement a well deserved win.
Race 6 Results: (top five)
1st Mersa – Alex Hayman
2nd X-Ray - Robin & Louise Balme
3rd Lucrecia - Ado Jardine
4th Zest – Phil & Jo Brewer
5th Beatrix – William Norris