Lymington XOD Autumn Series Race 5
by Barry Dunning 15 Oct 2023 13:38 BST
14 October 2023
Lymington XOD Autumn Series Race 5 © Malcolm McKeag
Race team led by Ken Hay and David Da Cunha
Sixteen of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club's XOD fleet had a tense yet exhilarating race on Saturday with their sailors enjoying the thrill of a running start against a really strong ebb in a moderate 12 knots from the north west.
The first mark was Caldwell Estate Agents buoy which is just off Boulder Cliff on the IOW shore. The boats that crossed the Solent first gained a huge advantage, being able to slip into less tide and running along the Hamstead Cliff shore. The leading boats were almost parallel with Hamstead Ledge before they headed up to round this mark and head across the Solent to Pylewell Inner mark which lies just south of Pylewell House. Eric Williams in Mersa was in the lead with Rory Paton sailing Mayfly and Paul Woodman in Lone Star following.
The windward leg saw Barry Dunning sailing Crumpet staying in the westerly going current and obtaining a wind shift which bought him from ninth place to fourth. She was just pipped at the finish line by Nick Froud in Claire de Lune who finished a credible third. Lone star was fifth.
A memorable if tense race in ideal sunny conditions.
Race 5 Results: (top five)
1st Mersa Eric Williams, Liz and Tim Blackwell
2nd Mayfly Rory Paton, Amanda Paton and David King
3rd Claire De Lunne Nik Froud, Mike Crowe and Charlie Dodd
4th Crumpet Barry Dunning, Carol Dunning and Mike Hobby
5th Lone Star Paul Woodman Oliver James and Harry James