Harken Sunday Series at Royal Southern YC
by Philip Gage on 10 Jun 2013
Ian Stowe’s Folkboat Connie takes the Handicap Class at the Royal Southern’s Harken Sunday Series. Colin Hall
The second of the Royal Southern YC's Harken short course Sunday Series was blessed with a North-easterly force 4, but shifty with it. With flat seas and few clouds to obscure the sunshine, this was just what the Series intended - short sharp racing for the fun of it, and back to the Club for lunch. In the new NHC fleet Matthew Streeter brought his Hunter 707 Tigerfeet all the way down Southampton Water to take line honours. He was beaten on handicap by Ian Stowe sailing the Nordic Folkboat Connie, while Rebecca Anthony took time out from her A levels to steer her father Daniel's SB20 Striptease to a creditable third place.
In the XOD class there was very close racing as the fleet hunted like a pack around the course. Mos Fitzgerald claimed the first critical shift but that was it as the others claimed more and climbed their way to weather. Tim Harding in Calypso then took the lead but missed the last shift to let Ken Williamson through at the end, so the places went to Ken Williamson in Lamouette just pipping Tim Harding in Calypso to win the race, with Mos Fitzgerald in Kathleen in third place. The Royal Southern Yacht Club's short course racing schedule continues with Gaastra Friday evening racing on 14th June and, weather permitting, every Friday until 12th July. The next and final Harken Sunday Series takes place on 16th June.
To date these races have been dominated by day boats, but they are great for cruisers too and the Southern is looking forward to more cruisers joining in as the Series evolves. The full 2013 Racing Programme and entry details are available on the Club's website.
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