Fastsail Southern Areas at Lymington Town Sailing Club
by Iain Sutherland 23 May 2006 17:48 BST
20-21 May 2006
Action from the Lymington Fastsail Southern Area open © Dawn Barsley /
www.fotoboat.com
Strong winds – exciting racing – entertainment – big prizes
Big breezes give exciting sailing at LTSC Fastsail is an Association of the Fastsail Class Associations; 505, Fireball, Flying Dutchman, Hornet, Javelin, Osprey and 470, which came to Lymington Town Sailing Club (LTSC) over the weekend of May 20-21 for their Southern area open meeting sponsored by Harken, Superspars, Craftinsure and Sailing Shirts.
On the Saturday, with the wind averaging 22 knots, nearly all the 16 boats which had arrived despite the strong wind forecast and ventured out towards the entrance of the Lymington River. A few turned back as the wind increased to 28 knots and the waves built in height. Undeterred, Race Officer, Nigel Walbank started all classes together in a handicap race but by
the time that the leading boat had completed the first lap and a half, and the wind increased to 32 knots most of the boats had retired. The race was abandoned as the wind continued to increase. The boats with broken masts were towed home.
With reduced winds on Sunday morning, racing started on time. Toby Dale and James Cole (505) led the fleet around a triangle, sausage, triangle course from start to finish chased by a Flying Dutchman (Tony Lyall and Colin Burns) and a Fireball (Miles Thomas and Paul Roe)
In the second race, a Flying Dutchman (Lucy Lingard and Richard Phillips) made up for their slow start in the first race and established a small lead over Dale (505) and Lyall (FD) who overhauled them by the first mark. A close race ensued between the two FDs but Lyall pulled away on the second lap and in so doing became FD Southern Area Champion. During the race visibility closed down and wind increased to 25 knots. Dale won on the water and handicap with a Hornet (Jon Williams and Robert Angus) second on handicap.
In the final race, with increased wind the boats finished in what was also the final overall positions for the event.
Overall Results:
1st Toby Dale & James Cole (505)
2nd Jon Williams & Robert Angus (Hornet)
3rd Tony Lyall & Colin Burns (FD)
4th Miles Thomas & Paul Roe (Fireball)