XOD Saturday Series at Royal Lymington Yacht Club - Race 6

Lymington XOD Saturday Series Race 6 © RLymYC

A solid easterly breeze encompassed the western Solent for what proved to be a exciting and challenging race 6 of the Lymington XOD Saturday series for the seventeen Lymington-based X One Designs that took part.

Race officers James McGill and Chris Knox used the full potential of the conditions, setting a brilliant course that compromised a long beat against the tide to G, before a reach across to H, followed by a long run to A, echopilot. Theron, a tricky judgement call had to be made as to whether or not the tide had turned as boats sailed upwind back from A to G, then turning downwind for a short run to the finish.

X48 XL and X179 Expeditious helmed by Rory Paton and James Markby respectively led off the line, both finding clear lanes near the pin end to be the first boats into the shore as the fleet sought to cheat the tide. Close tacking up the Pylewell shore ensued, with XL and Xpeditious converting their early advantage into a healthy lead, followed by X9 Zest, Phil Brewer, X176 Crumpet Barry Dunning and X32 Ibex Paul Woodman.

Place changes amongst the front runners were minimal on the long run to A, but back in the pack jostling was fierce with Eric Williams sailing X34 Mersa electing a longer but tidally favoured route to swoop round the outside of several boats to keep in contact with the front group. Having rounded H, the majority of boats picked an inshore strategy to try to catch the first of the flood tide to aid their windward leg. One of the previous backmarkers, X72 Venus with national youth laser sailor Sam De Feuillade on board were brave in their offshore route, but rewarded by jumping 12 boats to move up to 3rd by the time the fleet reached the line gate. All the while, XL and Xpeditious maintained and perhaps extended their advantage on the fleet, Xpeditious using their narrow advantage at mark A to apply a loose cover on 48 and hold the lead.

Lymington XOD Saturday Series Race 6 - photo © RLymYC

The battle for the top 5 heated up on the last beat from the gate to G, with Venus holding a narrow advantage over Zest and Ibex as both overstood the layline to the gate, with ex Olympian Barry Dunning, Mark Keeping and their 18 foot skiff sailor crew picking some spot on shifts to keep themselves in contention. Xpeditious rounded 1st, shortly followed by XL, both a healthy distance from the rest of the fleet. Thereafter, Venus rounded 3rd, followed by Ibex and Zest a few seconds behind.

The last run to the finish saw XL do all she could to attack Xpeditious in an attempt to try and take the race win but to no avail, as James Markby and tactician Jack Collings fended off the threat to take a thoroughly deserved win. Behind them, Venus fell victim to the combined wind shadows of Zest and Ibex to fall back to 5th whilst Phil Brewer demonstrated his esteemed tactical ability to pick a perfect gybe to the finish and sneak out Ibex, who had gybed offshore earlier, to 3rd place by little over a second.

All sailors enjoyed a fantastically close and challenging race, and were enormously grateful for the skills and efforts of both race officers in running a near perfect race.

Full series results can be found here.