Lymington XOD Saturday Series Week 10

Lymington XOD Saturday Series Week 10 © Mags Norris

The XOD fleet at the Royal Lymington Yacht club enjoyed a wonderful race in the Western Solent on Saturday with sunshine and a light south westerly breeze.

After a general recall the fleet were started on the windward leg under a Zulu flag from Scott Bailey mark to Hurst buoy. A port tack start through the fleet was the favoured tactic executed by Crumpet helmed by Barry Dunning and Clair de Lune helmed by Simon McCarthy.

After a mile of tacking up the shore against an easterly current it was Clair de Lune who pulled away and led at the windward mark, followed by Ann Ex sailed by Martin Sellars, Crumpet and Mayfly helmed by Rory Paton.

Downwind to Oakhaven buoy places did not change but on the turn of the mark Zest sailed by Phil Brewer caught up with the leaders, slipping into third place and Oyster helmed by David Gough sailing a more southerly route in the tide got the inside at the mark turn.

Going through the gate by the committee boat and out to L mark the front four pulled away from the fleet and on rounding, extended their lead downwind.

Lymington XOD Saturday Series Week 10 - photo © Mags Norris

Rounding Oakhaven buoy again for the last windward leg to Plus buoy, McCarthy kept his cool and kept the lead. Excellent downwind speed from Ann Ex and recognising a line bias nearly put her ahead of Zest at the finish with only a second between them.

Week 10 Results:

1st 33 Claire de Lune Simon McCarthy, Jeremy Baker and Mike Crowe
2nd 9 Zest Phil & Jo Brewer
3rd 8 Ann Ex Martin Sellars Tash Sellars and Rupert Harding
4th 176 Crumpet Barry and Carol Dunning Dunning and James Harrison

Full Lymington XOD series results can be found at rlymyc.org.uk/afloat/results/XOD-results