XOD Saturday Series at Royal Lymington Yacht Club - Race 20

Going into the penultimate race of the Saturday XOD series, the hunt for the trophy could not have been closer. Paul Woodman and Ollie James' Ibex and Rory Paton's XL started the race level on points, with XL's worst discard a second place, and Ibex's a third.

The weather was perfect and the race team lead by Ken Hay set a nice long windward leeward course.

Sixteen boats keenly contested the start line. With a weakening flood tide and a port bias XL just won the pin end of the start line from Ibex, who tacked inshore, ducking transoms as she went.

Unfortunately for XL she got involved with the other boats, allowing Ibex to judge the lay-line to mark B Pennington perfectly, and to lead from James Markby's Expeditious.

On the long run to mark J Sowley Boom, Ibex just managed to hold off Expeditious and Nick Froud's Venus. Expeditious then had a main halyard slip allowing Venus past.

At the finish Ibex finished a clear first, Venus second, and Expeditious just held off XL for third. Behind the top four, Stuart Jardine's Lone Star and Phil and Jo Brewers Zest tied for fifth place.

Overall the win did enough to guarantee Ibex a well sailed Saturday series win ahead of XL and Expeditious with a race to spare.

Thanks to Race Team Ken Hay, Mary Anne Jardine and Judy McConnel.

Full series results can be found here

Race 20 results:

1st X32 Ibex Paul Woodman, Robby Boyd and George Smith
2nd X72 Venus Nick Froud, Roy Froud and Henry
3rd X179 Expeditious James Markby Chris Sanders and Clive Bush
4th X48 XL Rory and Amanda Paton and Jonny Tait
5th= X119 Lone Star Stuart, Jardine Doug Rogerson and Robin Balme
5th = X9 Zest Phil and Jo Brewer and Debbie Miles