XOD Wattie Cup at Hamble

by Eddie Mays 10 Jul 2006 07:26 BST 8 July 2006

The afternoon was a Race Officer's dream, a Southwesterly Force 3 – 4 breeze made course laying easy and a good turnout of 12 boats from the Hamble ensured that there was competition throughout the fleet.

In Race 1 defending cup holders James & Fiona Roy (X118, Elicia) were just over the line at the start and by the time they re-started they were buried in the fleet. After two legs early leader David Oddie (X82, Magic Dragon) rounded Royal Southern just ahead of Ken Williamson (X144, La Mouette). On the long beat out to East Knoll the fleet divided evenly and there was little difference by the time the boats rounded the top mark. On the run back to the north shore Williamson sailed a little deeper and it paid as he rounded Meon (sorry – HW Corporate Finance) with a small lead. This he maintained on the beat to Deck (aka Brittaniaevents.co.uk) and then to the finish line off Cutter. In a very close finish Jonathon Fairchild (X63 Astra) just pipped the Roys for 5th place.

The fleet got a clean start for the 2nd, and deciding race, and this time Williamson established a winning lead from the outset. Oddie, after a poor start, was again the main opposition and there was only a few yards between them as they rounded the East Knoll but Williamson pulled steadily away during the next few legs to the finish. The Roys had a better race and came in 3rd ahead of Keith Hughes (X108, Leading Wind).

Overall Results:

1st X144 La Mouette, Ken Williamson 2pts
2nd X82 Magic Dragon, David Oddie 4pts
3rd X108 Leading Wind, Keith Hughes 7pts
4th X118 Elicia, James & Fiona Roy 9pts