Lymington Town Sailing Club Early Summer Series - Race 3
by Gareth Griffiths 29 May 2018 14:24 BST
21 May 2018
John Martin follows Kevin Podger during Lymington Town SC Early Summer Series Race 3 © Gareth Griffiths
Light winds and mist lay over the Western Solent as members arrived at Lymington Town Sailing Club for race three of the Early Summer Series. The forecast South Westerly 5-7 knot gradient breeze and glorious sunshine had not yet prevailed.
Arrival at the race area saw a strong ebbing tide and a 5 knot easterly breeze quickly veering south the decision was made to start a quick first race in the unsettled conditions, knowing that a far more successful second race could be held swiftly afterwards.
Both starts got away, congratulations have to go to all the competitors who managed to navigate the simple course through testing conditions. Due to the strong tide and shifting wind direction there was a time when a spinnaker could be seen flown on each left of the course.
The fast handicap was comfortably won by Team Podger, followed by Team Martin both crewed by their sons in their RS400s, with Jane and Steve Homewood taking third in their 18 foot Trimaran "The Green Machine".
Medium Handicap was won by Chris Bunce (Aero 7) with John Cooper/Becci Wiggley (Merlin Rocket) and Stuart Watson (Hadron H2) close behind.
For Race 2 the wind settled in the South West as predicted, still light and with a strong tide a windward/leeward course was quickly laid to get all classes away on one start. Unfortunately many competitors had lost patience with the weather and headed back to shore. Those that remained enjoyed a very competitive three lap race in steady conditions.
A superb match race started in Fast Fleet between the father/son teams in the RS400s with Team Martin taking the eventual win after the two boats split of on opposite corners on the last downwind leg, Green Machine took line honours by almost five minutes and split the two RS400s on the results to take second place, Team Podger finished third.
The Medium Handicap fleet saw a superb close race between an Aero 9, two Solos, a Europe and a 420 only on the last lap did they stop jostling position and the race was narrowly won by Malcolm Buchanan (Solo) with Pete Bell (Europe) hot on his tail and Shaun Welsh (Solo) close behind.
The race officer was relieved to be able to get two races completed in such light weather, well done to all competitors and to the support from the race team and rescue boat crews.
Series results can be found here.