Moore Blatch & Station Financial Lymington Thursday Night Series - Day 4

RLymYC Early Thursday Night Series race 4 © RLymYC

With low cloud, light rain, and a south westerly breeze averaging over twenty knots, conditions for this week's Moore Blatch and Station Financial Thursday Night Racing felt more akin to early Autumn than early Summer. However, with a barrelling flood tide, sea conditions were relatively calm, enabling the Royal Lymington Yacht Club's Race Team to get a full programme of starts away from the Staring Platform, at the entrance of the Lymington River.

Courses were laid in a westerly direction, into wind and tide, with Hurst providing the windward mark for many of the classes, including IRC 1, LAH 1, and the J80s. Close tacking in the shallow water, along the Mainland shore, provided some close racing in these classes. A lee bow from the tide flooding in towards Keyhaven saw many boats over stand the windward mark when tacking away from the shore between Pennington and the Keyhaven marshes. With spinnakers hoisted on starboard gybe, the fleet headed into deeper water to enjoy the maximum benefit of the flood tide under their keels, leaving Solent Bank to port.

As Tanners was the leeward mark, most boats stayed out in the deeper water, for as long as possible, before gybing onto port and heading inshore. Once round Tanners and with spinnakers down, it was close hauled once again. Yachts heading inshore to the marshes between Tanners and the Lymington River, escaped the worst of the flood tide. With ever lowering clouds, and the wind freshening further, the Race Officer made a good call to shorten courses. A warm bar and the hospitality of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club rewarded the many competitors who had enjoyed a great evening's sport on the Western Solent.

For Results of all classes, please visit rlymyc.org.uk/OnTheWater/Racing/Race_Results.aspx