Spencers Estate Agents Royal Lymington Yacht Club Thursday Night Late Series - Day 1
by James Hoare 1 Jul 2019 10:39 BST
20 June 2019
Spencers Estate Agents Royal Lymington Yacht Club Thursday Night Late Series day 1 © Paul French
The first race of the Spencers Estate Agent Thursday Night Late Series was a windy affair with a steady 20 knots blowing from the East. The Royal Lymington race team were fortunately able to use their starting platform as conditions would have been challenging in a committee boat.
Class 1 were sent to a laid mark near Sowley for the first beat which saw Jelly Baby, Jaywalker and Boomerang in close contention as they turned to run downwind. Islay broached in a 25 knot gust ending her chances. Jelly Baby elected for the island side of the final beat which proved correct, but her small lead at the final mark was not enough to prevent Boomerang taking the win with Jaywalker in third.
LAH 1 was closely fought as expected. Susimi 2 got the best start and held her advantage to the weather mark. The breezy conditions downwind suited Beep Beep who planed her way to the front, but was not able to make her handicap time on Susimi who won by 26secs. Charlotte was third with Fizz and Red Kite further back, but overlapped on the finish line.
The largest fleet of the evening was the Nordic FBs mustering 14 boats at the start. Tak came out best on the first beat to lead Crackerjack and Moonstone round the top mark. Crackerjack squeezed through to the lead at the bottom mark by a length or two. The turning neap tide presented options on the second beat. Crackerjack and Moonstone took the offshore route which was favoured, but Moonstone's spinnaker wrap cost her second place. The finishing order was Crackerjack, Tak and Moonstone.
The seven J80s out for this race excelled in the fresh conditions. Their large asymmetric spinnakers proving to be challenging but exciting downwind. Andrew Hurst's Fiducial was skilfully helmed to win ahead of Purple Haze and Dark and Stormy.
The forecast for next Thursday is for light winds which will provide the fleets with something of a contrast to this week.
Series results so far can be found here.