Lymington Town Sailing Club Solent Circuit - Day 2

Simon Flack's Folkboat Stralende. Winner of Race 2 of the LTSC Solent Circuit © AB Videography

A total of thirty eight yachts came to the start line in the Western Solent on Sunday 20th October for Race Two of the Lymington Town Sailing Club's Solent Circuit, sponsored by Penny Farthing Homes.

With weather conditions at the opposite end of the scale from the previous weekend's thirty knots and rain, competitors were greeted with a light, shifty north to north easterly breeze and sunshine. In the unpredictable conditions the race officer set a short windward leeward course off the main land shore for all classes.

The IRC Class One start got away on schedule, but a fifty degree wind shift at the start saw the beat turn in to a close reach to the first mark. As the wind refused to swing back, the race officer had no option but to abandon the race and re-set the course. Following a short delay racing recommenced. IRC 1 got away cleanly, with Emma Gage and Stuart Brands Elan 340 Banjax leading at the first windward mark, but as the breeze built, Ray Crouch's Adams 10 Boomerang broke clear on the downwind legs with the help of her masthead symmetric spinnaker.

In IRC Class Two Allan Hills J30 Colleen took line honours but could do nothing to prevent Pat Stables Trapper 300 Google Eye from taking first place on corrected time. Class Three, Lymington Adjusted Handicap, saw a shake up from the previous weekend, with Michael Carringtons Sweden 45 Susimi II being disqualified for not sailing through the gate at the completion of each lap. John Fitzsimmons Bolero, Sgt Pepper, took the win on corrected time ahead of Matt & Maria Perkins, sailing Sandy Fieldings beautiful Spirit 37 Strega.

The Folkboat class saw some very close racing, with Simon Flacks Stralende taking the win ahead of Chris Hills Padfoot and John Coopers Jen. Ed Donald's Madelaine finished second on the water but had to take a 20% time penalty for a rules infringement.

The J80s sailed two short windward leeward races and enjoyed some very close racing all through the fleet. Chris and Hannah Neve's No Regrets showed the way with two bullets, with Toby Colliers Traffic Jam and Andrew Hurst's Fiduical sharing the honours for second and third in the two races.

Full Results can be seen at www.ltsc.co.uk/results.

LTSC would like to thank Event Sponsor Pennyfathing Homes and supporting sponsors Caldwells Estate Agents, Grabau International, Lymington Yacht Haven, Ringwood Brewery, Rivaaz of Lymington and Harken UK.

Racing continues on Sunday 27th October. Details of the event and online entry can be found at ltsc.co.uk/yacht-racing