XOD Saturday Series at Royal Lymington Yacht Club - Race 7

The weather gods came good to provide sparkling conditions for the Lymington XOD fleet on Saturday in perfect time for their long race east.

Race officer James McGill ably assisted by Sinead Joyce with Linda and Doug Rogerson managed to set a fair line and upwind leg to B (Dunford) before setting the fleet off on the long trek up the Solent with the flooding tide to 3G (Sevenstar Yacht Transport) just beyond the mouth of the Beaulieu river. The main tactical decision was whether to head up into the faster moving water of the main channel but risk fading wind strength closer to the Island or stay a bit closer to the mainland with stronger breeze. In retrospect I still don't know the answer, probably somewhere in the middle, but the result was that the leading group expanded in number but compressed in distance until XL sailed by Ben, Amanda and Stuart Paton (variously related) nailed one last gybe into stronger tide and popped out clear ahead for the turning mark. The following group of Clair De Lune (Max and Mike Crowe with Jeremy Baker), Ibex (Paul Woodman, Ollie James and Paul Davies), Expeditious (James Markby, Alex and Charlie), Zest (Phil & Jo Brewer with Debbie Miles) and Excalibur (John Olliff-Cooper) all rounding in quick succession and heading off towards the shore for a long beat against the tide.

The wind freshened as the four leading boats powered off to battle for the lead with each getting a nose in front at some point and every tack having the potential for gain or disaster and really testing the crews' metal. Meanwhile, Venus (Nick and Roy Froud with Gareth Viney) had overhauled Excalibur and closed on Zest. The pair then duelled tack for tack for a couple of miles before Venus slipped the noose and set off after the leaders.

Unexpectedly, a sea mist was creeping down the Solent so a decision was taken to shorten the course at 2G (Tanners) and forego the next downwind section to get all the boats home. Unfortunately, XL and Clair De Lune didn't see the signals and headed off downwind and some boats didn't round G before sailing to the finish. The jury is still out as to the exact finishing order.... But let's not worry about that when we've had a great day on the water!

Glorious sunshine and a decent summer sou'westerly breeze - who could ask for more!

Full series results can be found here.