Christchurch Ledge Race 2026 at Lymington Town Sailing Club
by Pat Stables 27 May 14:35 BST
24 May 2026
Christchurch Ledge Race was run using a different course this year © Nick Hopwood
The "There and Back Race" (but not to Christchurch Ledge)
The forecast was not looking good to sail the Christchurch Ledge Race from some way out and so it proved. With about 3 knots and little prospect of an awful lot more, the Race Officer, Nick Hopwood, decided to delay for half an hour and see what happened. Traffic Jam (J80) managed to sail around in the little wind there was, just about making it over the tide.
With a little more wind a decision was made to start at 10:30 irrespective, to give the other boats some light wind practice, and the course would be 2A (Hill Robinson)) to port and finish back at Baverstock. At least the fleet would be able to drift down on the tide and by the time they got to 2A the tide would be about to turn to drift back, which would get us all back in time for lunch - a good plan!
The fleet headed up tide in advance and slowly sailed back to start. Traffic Jam got the best start followed by Pallas Athene (Yeoman) and both headed out on a white sail reach to catch the last of the ebb tide. Google-Eye (Trapper 300) and Strega (Spirit 37) followed but raised their spinnakers. Running Tide (Sweden 42) took up the rear.
Strega and Google-Eye made good progress reaching under kite, albeit in less tide, with Traffic Jam launching hers much later followed by Pallas Athene. Strega had almost caught up with Traffic Jam by the mark but decided that it might be possible to also spinnaker reach back to the finish so rounded the mark and "tacked" her asymmetric, which unfortunately did not go very well, nearly touching the mark in the process.
However, the wind had actually backed more than predicted so it came down. In the meantime Traffic Jam sailed away to finish well ahead of the fleet.
Google-Eye rounded the mark well in front of Pallas Athene and fetched back towards the finish. On route she crossed paths with Running Tide (Sweden 42) carrying her magnificent new asymmetric spinnaker, whose colours complemented her dark navy hull so well. Unfortunately Google-Eye was not quick enough to get a photo of the spectacle, which would have been fabulous.
Pallas Athene also took her kite down at the mark and proceeded to slowly catchup Google-Eye, who could hear her constantly trimming her sails to counter the chop created by the numerous motor boats and with the shifting wind. This paid off handsomely as she passed Google-Eye just before the finish who unfortunately had to short tack for Baverstock, having given a little too much to windward away in heading for the finish in the slowly backing breeze.
It probably also did not help having a large clump of weed on her propeller which she carried round the course and only saw when she arrived back on the pontoon!
Running Tide brought up the rear having suffered even further from the wind backing having to put a longer tack in to make the finish.
Who said that a "There and Back" race is boring?
All boats and the Race Officer (thankful to be out of the sun and heat in the RIB) were back well in in time for the Club's 80th Anniversary Barbecue on the lawn provided by the club chefs Ellis and Buddy.
Results - YTC:
1. Traffic Jam (Toby Collyer)
2. Pallas Athene (Kevin Podger)
3. Google-Eye (Pat Stables)
Results - LAH:
1. Traffic Jam (Toby Collyer)
2. Pallas Athene (Kevin Podger)
3. Strega (Matt & Maria Perkins)