Lymington Town Sailing Club Wildwind Wednesday Late Points Series - Race 10
by Becci Wigley & Malcolm Buchanan 5 Sep 2018 13:04 BST
29 August 2018
Class 4 during Lymington Town's Wildwind Wednesday Late Points Series race 10 © Alastair Beeton
The 29th saw the culmination of a highly successful Wildwind sponsored ten race series held at Lymington Town Sailing Club. Not a race was lost to the weather this year and an 'unbelievable' 130 boats took part in some or all of the races with the Medium Single Handers being most numerous with some 58 participating. Several of the races saw 50+ boats on the Lymington River start line – a spectacle to behold.
With just 20 minutes to go, before the start of the last race, the light wind threatened to drop off further. This light wind weather dictated the need for a short course and race officer made a quick amendment to the course to suit – though the approaching frontal system provided surprising planing conditions for many of the participants who just made it to the finish before the rain came in.
The front runners in the series made good starts and stretched their lead down the close reach to the first mark – the outgoing tide requiring the lay-line to be carefully judged. The subsequent legs again saw fast, wave assisted and thoroughly enjoyable planing conditions. Pete Barton was first home, with Simon Maguire second – just 40 secs behind. Further down the fleet there were many instances of just seconds separating many competitors – testament to the close racing going on for all.
The Medium fleet double handers all got away cleanly and headed off down the river with the Merlin of John Cooper and Becci Wigley leading the way. With a very low tide, and the ferry to negotiate, it made for an interesting rounding of the break water. The fleet headed out to the Solent where the breeze had picked up nicely. With only 2 marks to round before heading back into the river there was very little opportunity to overtake. The results where as follows: 1st Harry and James George 420, 2nd Tim Knight Tasar, 3rd John-and Becci Merlin Rocket
Series Results:
Class 1 Fast Fleet
1st Toby Collyer (RS 700, 8.4pts)
2nd Dougal Harris & Henry Castledine (F18, 13.2pts)
3rd Nigel Walbank (Musto Skiff, 18pts)
Class 2 Medium Double Handers
1st Richard Russell & Sylvia Weger (Tasar, 9pts)
2nd John Cooper & Becci Wigley (Merlin Rocket, 12.7pts)
3rd Rob & Jan Martin (Merlin Rocket, 13pts)
Class 3 Medium Single Handers
1st Pete Barton (RS Aero 9, 6pts)
2nd Dave Ellis (RS Aero 7, 10.8pts)
3rd Simon Maguire (RS Aero 9, 24pts)
Breaking the RS Aero domination Stuart Watson came 4th in his Hadron H2, with Malcolm Buchanan, sailing a Solo, coming in 5th
Class 4 Slow Fleet
1st John Sims (Avon Scow, 8.4pts)
2nd Sue Sutherland & Sarah Unsworth (Lymington River Scow, 10pts)
3rd Syliva Pepin (Lymington River Scow, 10.8pts)
LTSC would like to thank Wildwind Holidays for their sponsorship this summer and also Lymington Harbour Commission and Wightlink for their support and help in making the two Wildwind Wednesday series a success. Although the Wednesday night racing has stopped to give way to the Club's winter talks programme, racing continues every Sunday morning. For information please contact the sailing secretary on 01590 674514 or email .
Results can be found at www.ltsc.co.uk/results