Rooster West Country Boat Repairs RS400 Southern Tour at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club

Rooster West Country Boat Repairs RS400 Southern Tour © Jenny Taw

Attracted by the forecast of sunshine and moderate southerly breezes and in preparation for the Carnac Eurocup in 10 days time, no fewer than 25 boats gathered at Lee on Solent Sailing Club on 21/22 May, one of the oldest and most iconic south coast clubs which many, like me, hadn't revisited for years.

After two years of disruption, their desire to renew old friendships in good competition at a well-run local venue was met in spades.

The fifth placed competitor is invited to report on each event presumably because they will have been 'in the mix' while still in touch with the leading boats. I can only say that even when we got away from the start line in good shape we had a consistent view of Ben McGrane and James Stewart's fast receding transom, followed by that of Steve and Sarah Cockerill.

Rooster West Country Boat Repairs RS400 Southern Tour - photo © Jenny Taw

Despite wind fluctuations between 8 and 15 knots, some periods of shifts and bends, not to mention some mystifying tidal stream effects and depth variations to catch out the visitor, the 'Ben Steve 1 2' was the plot line of five of the six races, while Sam and Ben Pickering and Jack Munnely and Sarah Mitchel from Chichester SC did a great job of fending off the 'old guard' of Podger/Chipperfield and Mick and Sarah Whitmore.

Although it's possible to feel that your straight line speed is comparable to the top boats, the steady accumulation of shifts not spotted and small mistakes made is such that Ben was patiently waiting for several minutes for the rest of us to finish after a 40 minute race - must do better!

Rooster West Country Boat Repairs RS400 Southern Tour - photo © Jenny Taw

My old Navy sparring partner Rick Hanslip, helping Race Officer Kathryn Clark set excellent lines and courses on the start boat, said that he finds 3 races back-to-back a bit of a challenge. After capsizing twice between the final windward mark of the event and the finish, prompting a stream of inevitable 'if onlys', and nursing some aches and pains this morning, we can certainly see where he's coming from!

We all echo Ben's thanks after the prize-giving in the gorgeous new LOSSC clubhouse to the many staff and volunteers who helped to make it the superbly run 'feelgood early summer reunion event' we were hoping for.

Kevin Podger and Heather Chipperfield
125 years in the boat!

Overall Results:

Rooster West Country Boat Repairs RS400 Southern Tour - photo © Jenny Taw