XOD Central Solent Championship at Hamble River Sailing Club

by Eddie Mays 24 Jul 2006 13:22 BST 21-23 July 2006

Traditionally the Hamble Division of the X.O.D. class hold their Central Solent Championships on the weekend preceding Skandia Cowes Week. Hosted by Hamble River S.C. boats from the home club were joined by visitors from both the Itchenor and Parkstone Divisions.

On Friday afternoon there was a single race around the marks of the northern Solent and after 90 minutes racing Peter Baines sailing Kiwi Dave Lindsey's 'Caprice' took the gun by 30 secs from Itchenor's Alan Perry helming 'Falconet'. Simon Russell helming 'Swallow' took 3rd place ahead of another Itchenor boat, Ted Roose's 'Thora'.

The race schedule called for four windward / leeward races but that was before the weather took a hand. The first race started on time at mid-day but during the 2nd beat a thunderstorm rolled in over the Isle of Wight. The last run was sailed in nil visibility, 25 knots of wind and torrential rain. 'Falconet' was the first to reach the committee boat but missed the finishing gate in the poor visibility and recorded a 6th place by the time he had found the finish line. Mark & Peter Flanders (Parkstone) sailing 'Frivol' were the first to finish with 'Caprice' 2nd ahead of 'Swallow'. The next 30 minutes were a thoroughly miserable time for everyone whilst the fleet sat out the storm. 'Frivol' also had to endure a very close encounter of the electrical kind when a bolt of lightning landed very close to their boat. Luckily they suffered no damage to the boat. After the storm came the calm when the fleet spent an hour at anchor drying out.

For some this was more than enough and when racing did start again there were slightly fewer starters. The wind was very unsettled and so the Race Officer decided to set a short 'round the cans' course. 'Falconet' was again the fastest boat around the course, and finishing correctly recorded their first win. Stephen & Peter Lawrence made it an Itchenor 1 – 2. For what was to be the last race of the day an ambitious course was set taking the boats down to B & G. In a failing breeze the boats struggled successfully to get to the top mark and as the last boats rounded the wind veered 40 degs and quickly built giving a shy reach back to the finish line at William. Only three boats flew their spinnakers on this leg and Jonty Sherwill on board Jason Field's 'Onward' just failed to catch Peter Taylor's 'Felix' by one second at the line. There was a Bar-B-Q at Hamble River's clubhouse in the evening and the crack was as much about the storm as the racing. At an informal prizegiving the race winners were given practical items donated by Hyde, North Sails & Holt Allen.

Sunday proved a much calmer affair with the wind having steadied to the Southwest overnight. In light airs the first race was a windward / leeward laid course. In a close fought race Ken Williamson helming 'La Mouette' just held off 'Caprice' whilst 'Frivol' came through to snatch 3rd place. With five races completed one discard was now allowed and this made the overall positions much tighter. For the final race of the weekend the fleet were set a course ending at East Knoll, to allow those ongoing to Cowes berths to have a shorter sail. 'Caprice' established an early lead ahead of 'Falconet' and that was really the story of the race. 'Falconet' couldn't quite get close enough to start a tacking duel but 'Caprice' never got far enough ahead to be entirely free from not covering each tack. 'Onward' & Swallow' took the minor positions. 'Caprice' took the overall title, 'Falconet' was 2nd by virtue of her win in Race 3 and 'Swallow' having sailed very consistently took 3rd.

Overall Results: (22 entries)

1st X146, Caprice, David Lindsey (Hamble) 10pts
2nd X55, Falconet, Alan Perry (Itchenor) 18pts
3rd X166, Swallow, Simon Russell (Hamble) 18pts
4th X30, Onward, Jason Field (Hamble) 23pts
5th X192, Felix, Peter Taylor (Chichester) 26pts