Royal Lymington Yacht Club holds inaugural Summer Regatta

The Royal Lymington Yacht Club holds its inaugural Summer Regatta © Ann Brunskill

The Royal Lymington Yacht Club held its inaugural Summer Regatta last weekend, kindly sponsored by Danebury Vineyards and Solent House Dental Care. An impressive 60 boats were entered into 7 classes for one race on Saturday afternoon and another on Sunday morning.

A westerly breeze with some big northerly shifts greeted competitors for the race on Saturday afternoon with the XOD’s kicking off proceedings at 2pm. IRC Class 1 were sent on a trapezoid course followed by a sausage course, with the reaching legs favouring the asymmetric boats. Chris and Hannah Neve’s No Chance was able to able to keep ahead despite the wind shifts to win the class. IRC Class 2 had a similar course but with slightly shorter legs, but on the final run/reach to Pylewell, those that spotted the big wind shift got their spinnakers down early and were able to gain several places on the final beat to the finish.

Racing finished at around 4.30 pm for everyone; some racers were spotted in the bar immediately post-race but most headed home to get dressed in their finery for the sparkling wine reception sponsored by Danebury which started at 6.30pm. The weather was kind, allowing everyone to pack the balcony. An excellent meal and fantastic band, BB3 finished the evening in fine style.

Sunday morning produced 17-18kts and more stable breeze. The event managers had been kind to the racers by planning a 10.30 start, although there was mild moaning about sore heads around the pontoons. The start of Class 2 was perhaps more interesting than some might have liked; the boats being all bunched at the committee boat end had to immediately negotiate round the ferry and then a cruising boat towing a tender which had lost steerage!

All classes had another 2hr race with everyone back in the bar by 1.30 for a hog roast and prizes of trophies, R Lym YC mugs and sparkling wine.

There were many compliments about the racing, with people enjoying the longer legs and after the fabulous evening as well, there were many calls for the event to be repeated next year.

Results for Saturday

IRC Class 1; 1st No Chance, Chris/Hannah Neve
IRC Class 2: 1st, Reach Around, Christian Sutherland
Class 2LH; 1st Charlotte of Lymington, Peter Blick
Class 3 LH; 1st Emilia, Phillip Hancock
Class 4 LH; 1st Rosenn, Barry Dunning/Bob Fisher
XOD; 1st, Beatrix, William Norris
Folkboats, 1st Good Shepherd, Keith Whitelaw
RS Elite; 1st, Kandoo III,Crauford Mckeon

Results for Sunday

IRC Class 1; 1st No Chance, Chris/Hannah Neve
IRC Class 2; 1st, Shallot, Eric Reynolds/Chalkie White
Class 2 LH; 1st, Charlotte of Lymington, Peter Blick
Class 3 LH; 1st, Tokoloshe, Harry Ellens
Class 4 LH; 1st, Charmina, Richard Rouse
XOD; 1st, Mayday, David da Cunha
Folkboats; 1st Cracjkerjack, Stuart Watson
RS Elite; 1st, Kandoo III, Crauford McKeon

For other results please see the club website.