Lymington Dinghy Regatta 2015
by Luke McEwen 21 Jul 2015 17:44 BST
18-19 July 2015
Lewis and Gregory Brown at the Lymington Dinghy Regatta 2015 © LPB Aerial Imagery /
www.lpbaerial.com
Glorious weather and a solid sea breeze greeted the ninety-eight boats racing at the Harken sponsored Lymington Dinghy Regatta 2015, held in the Western Solent over the weekend of 18/19 July.
This is the third year the event has been held, with Lymington Town Sailing Club and the Royal Lymington Yacht Club joining forces to lay on a fantastic regatta. Supporting sponsors Nick Cox Yacht Chandlers offered discounts to all competitors on English Braids cordage throughout the event.
Two courses were laid out in the Solent. On the East course, the faster boats were revelling in the high-speed planning conditions, sailing mostly windward/leeward courses.
The ten-strong Merlin Rocket class was dominated by Jon Gorringe and Nicky Bass of Parkstone YC, winning with a race to spare, from Tristan Jaques and Chris Kilsby (Thames SC) and Tim Harridge and Farno Gifford (Hampton SC).
Luke and Emma McEwen (RLymYC) sailing their RS800 had a similar run of success in the Fast handicap, winning by a twelve point margin from the Javelin of Brian and David Earl (RLymYC) and LTSC's David Gautier sailing his Contender.
The RS400 fleet was a much closer contest, with the two leading boats on equal points going into the final race. In the end Jim Downer and Toby Lewis (Gurnard SC) just beat Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin (Llangorse SC) to take first place, with John Cooper and Becky Wigley (LTSC) in third.
The D-Ones were led overnight by Dave Gorringe, but a masterful heavy airs performance by Giles Chipperfield on Sunday saw him leapfrog Gorringe to take 1st place overall and give an LTSC 1,2,3 with Nick Simmons in 3rd place.
On the West course the Medium and Slow handicap fleets, together with the Lymington River Scows sailed quadrilateral courses with the reaching legs they tend to prefer. Race officer Paul Stickley wisely switched to a starboard rounding course on Saturday as the wind against tide conditions kicked up a classic West Solent chop.
The medium fleet, with 38 entries was the largest class of the regatta. he class was eventually won by the Blaze of Mike Lyons (Burghfield SC), who sailed a consistent series in the varying conditions. The RS200 of Chris & Katherine Martin (Oxford SC) finished in 2nd place and Miles Mence (LTSC) in his new Farr 3.7 was 3rd.
The Slow handicap fleet was made up of Laser 4.7's and saw Zac West (RLymYC), Harry Cowell (Hamble River SC) and George Smith (LTSC) finish in that order. The Lymington River Scow fleet was won by Sebastian and Tamsin Ayris of Salterns SC.
Whilst the superb shore team ran the slipway with their usual efficiency, sailors were welcomed ashore each day with tea and doughnuts after racing. The RLymYC hosted a traditional Spanish Paella night on Saturday, which was well supported by sailors and volunteers.
The event was generously sponsored by Harken and Nick Cox Yacht Chandlers who both supplied a selection of their wares as prizes.
The next Lymington Dinghy Regatta will at place on 30th and 31st July 2016.
www.ltsc.co.uk.