Portmore Spring Series at Royal Lymington Yacht Club - Race 1

First race of the Portmore Spring Series at Royal Lymington © Vicky Leen

With last week's planned races abandoned with no wind, this Sunday's racing was the first time that most crews had come to the start line this season. With two races to sail, the breeze for the first start was light and from the South.

The course set was a Windward Leeward style, out into the Solent and back North to an inshore mark. At the finish of the first race it was Jaywalker (Bob Baker), Brizo (George Smith), and Jelly Baby (William Newton).

As crews prepared for the second race, the wind strengthened from the South with a steady 15-17kts by the start. The longer course and the stronger breeze was going to give the boats a chance to 'stretch their legs'. At the start, Boomerang, Jaywalker and Islay were closely bunched, with Islay then taking an early Port tack to move up-tide as the fleet raced out into the Solent.

The spinnaker legs saw the lead boats gradually edging ahead, but with the lower rated boats still in touch, and the results were clearly going to be close. Meanwhile, Islay, and Wee Bear were having their own race-long battle.

Boomerang with Ray Crouch took line honours, with Jaywalker and Islay in second and third, and with all three boats covered by just 39 seconds. With the results of the two races combined, and the IRC ratings taken into account, the overall winner was Jaywalker (Bob Baker), followed by Boomerang (Ray Crouch), and Jelly Baby (William Newton) just edging out Islay (Richard Down).

Next Sunday 22nd April sees races 5 & 6 in the eight race series.

Report from the J/80 perspective on Sunday's races

With the ever expanding fleet of J80's in Lymington now numbering 21 boats it was a great sight to see so many new owners and crews on the water.

The breeze was a lot lighter than the forecast and with the shifting breeze it was a struggle to cross the line on starboard for the first race and many went for a port tack approach that didn't quite pay as they were forced behind the few that started on starboard. The starboard boats tacked over into clear air and slightly more breeze to lead at the top mark. After having led at the top mark No Regrets (Chris & Hannah Neve) found a nice hole in the wind allowing those following to gybe away into the new building breeze. Hush (Peter Lister) took the lead from Wildcat 3 (Andy Ash-Vie) and this is how it stayed to the finish with new comer to the fleet Jibba Jabba (John Puddifoot) coming in 3rd.

By the second race the wind had built and was less shifty so it was a boat speed duel, No Regrets once again led around the top mark followed by Fiducial (Andrew Hurst) and then a very closely bunched fleet. This time on the longer course No Regrets did not relinquish their lead, but the fleet behind had some very good tussles with a protest outstanding. 1st No Regrets, 2nd Fiducial 3rd Hush. The J80 fleet is certainly going to have a very competitive year as more of the fleet come out to play if these two races are anything to go by.

Thanks also goes to our Daily Prize Giving sponsor, Dancing Cow Brewery.

Full results can be found here.