Sunday Winter Series at Lymington Town Sailing Club - Day 8
by Barry Sticklen 6 Dec 2011 09:29 GMT
4 December 2011
Ian Sanderson heads Miles Mence by 7 seconds after an hour's racing on the final weekend of the Lymington Town Sunday Winter Series © Barry Sticklen
The final race of the Lymington Town Sailing Club Autumn Series took place on 4th December. A light westerly wind promised good sailing and an excellent turn-out of 27 dinghies crossed the start line.
The fast fleet got away cleanly into a 14 knot breeze, tacking out into the last of the flood tide to buoy 'Plus'. First to return was Pete Barton in his foiling Moth showing that flying is quicker and soon catching the back-markers in his own fleet.
In the medium fleet start Julie Willis pushed the line so far as to be recalled, but both Miles Mence in his Blaze and Kinna and Watts in their Wayfarer came back. This allowed Ian Sanderson in his Blaze a clear run to the first mark, but he was slowly overhauled by Mence.
As Pete Barton completed the allocated 4 laps before anyone else had completed 3, the Race Officer Mike Beggs shortened course to avoid a long beat into the increasing flood tide. On the last down-wind Mence got within 10 yards of Sanderson but on the last short beat Sanderson covered to gain the win by just 7 seconds.
When the handicaps were calculated Barton was triumphant, just deserts for exceeding 30 knots last week to come in 4th. In the Medium Fleet Blazes took the first 3 places with Sanderson and Mence followed by Stewart Watson.
In the series, the overall winners in the Fast Fleet were Luke and Emma McEwen in their RS800 with Pete Barton second and the 29er of Geoff Havers and Kate Smethurst third.
In the medium fleet Mike Beggs and Vicki Leen kept the lead with Tim Knight's Laser second and Richard Russell's RS100 third.
Race 8 Results:
Fast Fleet
1st Peter Barton, International Moth
2nd Luke & Emma McEwen, RS 800
3rd Declan Clamp & Gary Stones, B14
Medium Fleet
1st Ian Sanderson, Blaze
2nd Myles Mence, Blaze
3rd Stewart Watson, Blaze
Series Results:
Fast Fleet
1st Luke & Emma McEwen, RS 800
2nd Peter Barton, International Moth
3rd Geoff Havers, Kate Smethurst / Jo Barriball, 29er
Medium Fleet
1st Mike Begge & Vicki Leen, Laser Stratos
2nd Tim Knight, Laser
3rd Richard Russell, RS 100
Full results on the Lymington Town Sailing Club website.