Jack in the Basket Challenge – A days racing saved

by Lymington Town Sailing Club on 6 May 2015 Jack in the Basket Challenge – Competitors pitched up at Lymington Town Sailing Club on Sunday morning to readings of 26kn gusting 34kn on the Solent. After some debate and chin rubbing the sensible decision was made to cancel all racing for the day.

However, undeterred, a valiant posse of four RS Aero sailors pointed out that they all had the small RS Aero 5 rigs available which is an indeed a great option allowing fun, participation and safety in such conditions.

So an impromptu Jack in the Basket Challenge was agreed where the PRO would run racing on the Lymington speed course; River line start and finish and either way around Jack in the Basket, the most distant river post half a mile out into the open Solent.

On the first start, the four RS Aero 5 were joined by an intrepid RS300. A quick 3,2,1 and the fleet was off. With a high tide straight lines and corner cutting were possible with a flat outreach both ways giving some fantastic wave bouncing and surfing on the Solent.

Peter Barton led Dave Ellis with a littler extra weight producing dividends even on the reaches. George Kingsnorth followed from Declan Clamp (RS300) and Mark Barwell.

Just when we thought was all over and we could have a well-deserved lunch the PRO task master, Richard Lilley, pointed out that the Challenge states that all river posts must be left on the channel side. We had had our practice race and needed a re-run! The revised course made an interesting improvement as it now gave five different reaching angles in each direction. Whilst the wind was moderating a little the tide on the Solent was becoming progressively worse with the waves on the increase. Now joined by an RS400 the fleet was up to six.

Dave surged off to a cracking start and George pulled past Peter. The larger sailed Declan in his RS300 &brothers Stone in their RS400 came through all the RS Aero5s at the top of the river where the wind was patchier. Dave pulled away in the marginal planning whilst George protected against Peter overtaking to windward. As the wind blasted across the river mouth Peter finally planned to leeward of George and hiked through Dave’s lee on the fetch to the last post.

The choice of rounding direction now came to play. The 400 and 300 opted for a safe tack but then had to go wide to avoid the starboard RS Aeros. Peter went for the faster-gybing option, but David spotting an opportunity went for the tack forcing Peter sail wide around him as they met behind the mark!On the initial broad reach back Dave nearly surfed the waves to take a room on the next river post but Peter held on and then pulled away on the flat out medium reach section. In the protected top of the river, Dave was gaining fast but Peter held on just long enough to take third on the water behind the 300 and 400.

The record time so far for 2015 is thus Declan Clamp on his RS300 Purple Hairnetat 19min 21secs.

Straight line honours – no PY
Declan Clamp RS 300 19min 21secs
Gary and Geoff Stones RS 400
Peter Barton RS Aero 5
George Kingsnorth RS Aero 5
Mark Barwell RS Aero 5
Dave Ellis RS Aero 5 OCS