Lymington Town Sailing Club Regatta
by Giles Chipperfield 22 Aug 2025 13:28 BST
16 August 2025
Lymington Town Sailing Club Regatta © LTSC
Our club supports a wealth of different sailing activities, but it is all too rare that we all join together as a club. The Regatta on Saturday 16th August was a delightful exception, where over 30 boats sailed together in a big crowd round the same course at (mostly) the same time. It was great to see the club Fevas, Zests and Quests mix it with family Mirrors and everything up to Aero World Champions and Musto Skiffs off the same start line.
The weather was fairly brisk, but the onshore support of the club's energetic Dinghy Instructors helped everyone on and off the slipway, while excellent safety boat crews were kept pretty busy helping right those who were a bit ambitious on the gybes. Dave Gorringe as Race Officer organised a cunning set of four races: the first was just to get to the startline, then two 30 minute races - four laps for the fast boats, as little as one for the slower ones - followed by a race back up to a finish in the river on the way home. Everyone back for 3pm was the target, which allowed for tea and cakes as requested.
The course was set from the club launch close inshore, out of the tide and close to the river entrance, which focussed the fast boats on a rapid bear away/spinnaker set & gybe before they hit the mud, while the Aeros enjoyed a straight run surfing down the waves to the leeward mark, where everyone came together again with a certain amount of excitement.
Richard Mayo nailed the prize for the best timed start of Race 1 in his Aero6, while his son Robbie in his RS Tera won Race 4 back to the river. Peter Barton won the overall series in an Aero7, followed by Mark Jenkins (Aero 5), Richard Mayo and then Nick & Finn Simmons sailing very fast indeed in an RS200 in 4th.
There was a great buzz afterwards in the club. The big wind and compressed race course made for a thrilling day, while the great safety and support teams made everyone of all ages feel safe and secure. Thanks to everyone who helped, and we trust this will be an annual event. It is worth saying also that the weekly Saturday Sailing sessions follow a similar format for those who want supported sailing with a bit of racing introduction, so feel free to come and join those. And Bart's Bash on 13 September will be more of the same...