Lymington Town Sailing Club Solent Circuit - Day 5

J80s start Race 5 of the LTSC Solent Circuit © Robin Milledge

The fifth weekend of the LTSC Solent Circuit, sponsored by Pennyfarthing Homes, saw thirty four yachts come to the start line in the West Solent in sunny weather and a brisk but shifty north easterly breeze.

The Race Officer set a windward mark off the shore to the east of Tanners Lane, but a significant wind shift to the north just as the first races were starting meant the first leg of the course became a bit one sided.

The start line was adjusted and the windward marked moved, but the wind persisted from the north, making for quite a lot of one sided windward legs and reaching on the intended downwind legs. Nevertheless, competitors enjoyed a great morning of sailing in flat water and sunshine, although some of the smallest yachts struggled against the building ebb tide.

The IRC One fleet was led home by William Newton's J105 Jelly Baby and IRC Two by Harry Hutchinson's Swan 36 Anna Mai, both managing to do enough to win their class on corrected time.

In the Lymington Adjusted Handicap Class, Michael Carrington's Susimi II, enjoyed the long reaching legs to finish first on the water but was beaten in to first place on corrected time by Sandy Fielding's Spirit 37, Strega.

The leading Folkboat's enjoyed some very close racing over a series of windward - leeward legs, with numerous places changes. Ultimately it was Ed Donald's Madelaine that claimed first place, from Julian & Claire Sowry's Mistal and John Coopers Jen.

The J80s had two races over a windward leeward course, or at least that was the intention of the Race Officer, but the aforementioned wind shifts made a course square to the wind a bit of a challenge. Chris and Hannah Neve, sailing No Regrets, continued their winning streak with another masterclass to take the win in the first race, but in the second race they were caught out whilst match racing their nearest rival, Andrew Hurst's Fiducial, allowing Toby Collier and crew sailing Traffic Jam to benefit from a favourable wind shift, take the lead and a well-deserved win.

The day's racing was sponsored by Grabau International Yacht Brokers. Full race results can be seen at www.ltsc.co.uk/results.

LTSC would like to thank Event Title Sponsor Pennyfathing Homes and supporting sponsors Caldwells Estate Agents, Grabau International, Lymington Yacht Haven, Ringwood Brewery, Rivaaz of Lymington and Harken UK.

Racing continues, with the last race of the series on Sunday 17th November. Details of the event, and on line entry can be found at www.ltsc.co.uk/yachtracing.