XOD Centenary Celebrations at Itchenor Sailing Club
by David Priscott 6 Jun 2011 11:05 BST
30 May - 3 June 2011
John Tremlett’s Xcitiation in action © H2O Photography
A full five days of racing for the Itchenor XODs marked their contribution to the celebrations along the South Coast to mark the date one hundred years ago when Xs first raced in Southampton Water.
It became clear from the outset that Xcitation helmed by John Tremlett would be the boat to beat. Xcitation’s beautiful restoration was started by Frank Powell and completed after his death by Haines Boatyard for her re-launch this year. Tremlett took the first three races in the week as a number of other top Itchenor crews took turns to challenge – on Monday it was Mark Palmer in Sweet X and Damion Ash sailing Wenda. Ted Roose in Thora took up the challenge on Tuesday, with Wednesday’s chasers being Ron Parker and Alan Perry in Falconet and Richard Jordan and Richard Bullock sailing Lass.
On Thursday the weather gods delivered sparkling summer conditions with a gentle sea breeze giving the fleet a change from the brisk northerlies of earlier in the week. Colin McKinnon sailing Chartreuse that took the main prize but Xcitation’s second place was good enough to secure victory in the week’s series for the coveted Benson Platter.
As an addition to the week’s series a special race was added on Thursday afternoon to mark the Centenary. Xcitation returned to the top spot out of 27 boats to clinch the newly gifted West Wind Trophy. No good celebration would be complete without a party and over 200 Itchenor members and guests dined and danced until the early hours.
The brisk northerly air steam returned on Friday to blow away the cobwebs. It was Alastair Shaw in Phoenix accompanied by Captain’s Cup winners Steve and Peter Lawrence who took line honours with that man Tremlett in second place and Peter Taylor’s crew in Felix putting their best result of the week in third spot.
The focus of the XOD Centenary Celebration now moves to Cowes Week in August when over 20 Itchenor boats will join more than 100 XODs for another week of racing.