Royal Lymington Yacht Club Monday Evening Dinghy Series - Overall
by Ann Brunskill 28 Aug 2018 17:08 BST
27 August 2018
The Fast Handicap fleet run their final race in the Royal Lymington Monday Evening Dinghy Series © Ann Brunskill
The RLymYC Monday Evening Dinghies Late Series concluded at a great Bank Holiday race in sunshine. With a shifty NW wind dropping from force 4 to force 2 during the evening, a low spring tide and three ferries coming in and out of the Lymington River, the competitors had plenty of tactical challenges. Race officer Steve Green and his team set courses out into the Solent with legs at every angle, judging the race length perfectly to get the sailors back before nightfall.
In the Slow handicap fleet, young Harry West got a great start in his Tera. He was overhauled by Cameron and David Bignold in their Feva, but managed to stay ahead of Alex Paton and Ella Fullerton, also in a Feva, on corrected time. His second place in the race was enough to give West the overall series win.
The Medium fleet series had already been sewn up by Pete Sanders and John Claridge in their Seafly, but they sealed their victory with another convincing race win, three minutes ahead of the Aeros of Karl Thorne and Nick Eales. Richard Russell and Sylvia Weger finished 7th in the race but it was just enough to stay ahead of Thorne for second overall in the series.
The Fast handicap fleet was led at the start by Nigel Walbank in his Musto Skiff, but in the tricky battle back up river he was overtaken by Luke and Emma McEwen in their RS800, who pulled away for the race win. Liam Willis and Abby Keightley-Hanson managed to stay close enough in their B14 for second place despite three separate entanglements with other boats pre-start. However Walbank's third in the race was enough to win the series ahead of the RS800 and the B14.
John Evens won the battle in the Scow Silver Fleet finishing, with a win which gave him a five point lead over Pel Bruce. Jane Pitt-Pitts and Carol Canning were first home last night but the Gold Scow overall was fleet was won by Rory and Alex Paton with four firsts.
Over 100 assorted dinghies have raced over the season with only one race being cancelled due to lack of wind. The Scows now start their four week Autumn series, while the handicap fleets look forward to more evening racing next spring.
Full results at rlymyc.org.uk/OnTheWater/Racing/Race_Results.aspx