Lymington Town Sailing Club Perisher Series - Race 5
by Alastair Beeton 5 Feb 2013 01:35 PST
3 February 2013
Lively Sunday sailing
Race five of Lymington Town Sailing Club's Perisher Series was again blessed with a moderately mild day, accompanied by a gusty westerly which topped out at around twenty five knots. Eighteen boats took the decision to come to the line and after a clean start the braver crews went for spinnakers to try and establish an early advantage. They were fortunate to get away with this in gusty conditions but nobody was seen to be swimming at this stage.
The fleet was very quickly into the western Solent where they were required to sail three short windward leeward legs. The original plan of a longer course was revised as the wind increased soon before the start. The testing conditions were responsible for several capsizes and the D-One fleet were seen to be entertaining the others, with spectacular action and a notable pitch-pole by Giles Chipperfield. After some lively sailing the fleet made their way back to the finish, with a screaming reach offering more thrills and spills on the way home. The McEwens once again sailed a textbook race and won by a healthy three minutes on corrected. They were followed home by the 400s of Cooper/Wigley and Podger/Chipperfield. The three brave Teras that took to the water were led home by Tom Goacher. All three youngsters sailed with great credit.
Race 4 Results:
Main Fleet
1st Luke & Emma McEwen, RS800
2nd John Cooper & Becci Wigley, RS400
3rd Kevin Podger & Heather Chipperfield, RS400
Slow Fleet
1st Tom Goacher, RS Tera Sport
2nd Robby Boyd, RS Tera Pro
3rd Charlotte Bassett, RS Tera Pro