RS400 Rooster Southern Tour at Lee-on-Solent Sailing Club

RS400 Rooster Southern Tour at Lee-on-Solent Sailing Club © Dave Hart / LOSSC

Twelve visiting boats joined the seven home boats for a nice size fleet of nineteen at Lee on Solent Sailing Club over the weekend 21st-22nd July for the latest round of the RS400 Southern Tour.

Fantastic weather, sunshine and a light south easterly for the opening race saw those who went hard left paying hugely at the first mark, my pre race plan of the wind swinging to the west and a favourable stronger tide further out in the Solent looked as sick as the look on my face as we rounded in 18th place!

No such problem for the better informed local sailors Neil Beverington/Alan Skeens who took the bullet from Howard Farbrother/Louise Hosken with John Hessing/ Nicky Griffin in third.

Race two was in very similar conditions, though maybe a little more wind, Francisco Lobata and Jules who clearly went up the right hand side in the first race made no mistakes this time and romped home to win with John and Nicky second and Sam and John Knight in third.

The tail enders had barely finished when the wind swung, as I had predicted! Albeit two hours too late for my master plan! Now right round to the southwest and a decent sea breeze built for the last two races of the afternoon. Race three was held in glorious conditions and was won by John and Nicky with Francisco and Jules second and Mick and Sarah Whitmore third. Having put all of our effort into the last beat of race three and with my small toe cramping over my big toe, We were over joyed to find another race being held due to the uncertain forecast for Sunday. As if four races were not enough to test my already cramping legs, the windward mark seemed to be even further away.

RS400 Rooster Southern Tour at Lee-on-Solent Sailing Club - photo © Dave Hart / LOSSC

Still the wind had picked up to 15-18 knots and the chop built to make for some good fun downwind sailing. John and Nicky took the bullet again with Francisco and Jules second and Howard and Louise third.

You might at this stage be wondering what happened to the normally speedy Howard and Louise in race two and three.

In their effort to make their new boat go even faster with some go faster bimbles, they succeeded in the opposite, as knots slipped through vital bits and pole and spinnaker refused to cooperate.

Saturday evening and still the sun shone as we downed a few drinks and enjoyed the evening meal of Lasagna or a hot chilli.

Hot on the way down, and for me still hot in the morning!

Note to self, add chilli to the list of foods to be avoided before a sailing day!

A 10am start and still the sun shone with a nice force 2 south westerly. With the tide flowing in the opposite direction now, getting onto Port tack early off the start line paid dividends, though further out by the windward mark the tide appeared to be going in the opposite direction? So those that tacked early surprised those idiots (me) by laying the mark easily, still it was a nice reach into the windward mark!

Howard and Louise with knots re-tied won with John and Nicky second and Ian and Charlotte Horlock in Third. Some really close racing throughout the fleet, mark hitting was banned for the event, some rather polite shouting followed by turns duly completed, friendly bunch the 400 fleet. Unlike the accompanying 2000 fleet who saw protests and all sorts of family fun!

Anyway, what happened in race six? John and Nicky again won from Howard and Louise with Mick and Sarah third.

All done and packed up nice and early for the drive home.

Thanks to LOSSC, great race management, great hospitality and a great Chilli!

On the podium and in amongst the Rooster sponsored prizes were John and Nicky First, Francisco and Jules Second with local sailors Neil and Alan in third place.

Lovely to see some new faces, welcome to the 400 fleet. Hope you enjoyed the weekend as much as we did.

Overall Results: