LTSC Regatta Report 2nd -3rd July 2011

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LTSC Regatta Report 2nd -3rd July 2011

Written by Barry Sticklen Tuesday, 05 July 2011 00:00

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The Lymington Town Sailing Clubs annual regatta was held over the weekend of 2^nd & 3^rd July 2011. This year there would also be visiting RS dinghies at the regatta, who would normally have sailed in the RS Open, historically held earlier in the year. This would make for a much larger regatta than normal. The plans were put into place to accommodate this, but as an added complication the Royal Lymington Yacht Club were also holding the Scow National championships and their normal XOD racing. This would make for a very busy Western Solent.

The dress overall flags were hoisted on the Friday evening and the competitors started arriving. The early boats were left on the Club lawn to be organised in the morning. An area in the Bath road car park was taped and coned off for all the excess boats that were expected. Two race tracks were planned, one to the East of the River with Contessa Catherine as the Committee boat, skippered by Robin Milledge. Robin Dent was the course Alpha principal race officer and Peter Allen, course area Bravo would be the race officer on Baverstock. The second committee boat, permanently moored to the West of the river. A small armada of smaller craft would provide the safety cover. This included all three LTSC RIBs, one borrowed from the local Scout Group, one borrowed from a Club member, one from the Club secretary and both of the Club launches.

Apart from the armada of safety boats some 50 people were also pressed into service each day to man or women them, and to make the event happen in general. This does not include the Restaurant or Bar Staff who would also be needed to cover the competitors dietary and thirst requirements.

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The Rear Commodore House had agreed discounted suppers and had negotiated a happy one and a half hours to round off the first days racing.

The registration team headed by Mrs Gi Fisher started at 0900hrs and the entry & results team started putting the competitors on the system. There ended up being 62 boats signed up. 7 RS 500s, 8 RS 600s, 20 RS 800s, 10 Fast, 16 Medium & 1 Slow handicap fleet boat. At this time though the prizes for the competitors had not yet been delivered.

Course Alpha RS 500, RS 600 & RS 800

Robin Dent and his team were stationed on the Committee boat Contessa Catherine anchored to the East of the Lymington River. Three classes would be racing on this course RS 500s, 600s & 800s. The courses were laid to give windward / leeward courses to the 500s & 800s and a trapezoid for the RS 600s. Three races were planned for the Saturday & three on Sunday.

Andy Heissig from LTSC took first blood in race 1 for the RS 600s followed by Tom Gall from Netley SC, then came Pete Nelson from Northampton SC. By the end of day 1 Pete Nelson had snatched 1^st from Andy Heissig with Tom Gull lying in third. By the end of day two although level on 8 points Pete would keep the win from Andy on count back. Tom remained in third.

In the RS 800 class by the end of the first day Nick Charles & Christian Humphries from Datchet SC, were locked together with Ian Martin & Tony Clegg from Burghfield SC on 6 points. With another race win on the Sunday in race 5, Nick Charles & Christian Humphries had sealed the deal taking first place, with Ian Martin & Tony Clegg taking 2^nd. Ben Schooling & George Kingsnorth took 3^rd.

In the RS 500 fleet at the end of day 1 James & Lucinda Tanner from Burghfield SC were lying in 1^st place from Richard & Sue Morley, who were also from Burghfield SC. Michael Corney & Gareth Danes from Pembrokeshire YC were lying in 3^rd. On day 2 with another two straight wins Richard & Sue Morley took the series followed by James & Licinda Tanner 2^nd & Michael Cornley & Gareth Danes.

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Course Bravo Fast, Medium & Slow handicap

Peter Allen laid the course in preparation, which was to be changed a few times in between the racing. There was quite a strong tide running through the course. The course set would be a windward start triangle & sausage course with a number of laps set. The slow fleet had a different windward mark to shorten each lap.

The first start was right on time at 1300. In the fast fleet John & Pam Martin in their RS 400 would take the win in all three races. Chris & Rowan Powel in their Osprey took 2^nd in two of the races. There were only four fast finishers in the first race and two in each of the next two races. On day 2 there were only two serious contenders in John & Paul Martin & Chris & Rowan Powell as the people who did not race on the Saturday picked up 11 DNC points for each race they did not compete in. John & Pam Martin took the series from Chris & Rowan Powell. With Kevin & Hannah Podger taking third place with an impressive 2^nd in the first race on Sunday and a first in the second race.

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The Medium fleet first start was at 1305. Richard Russell in his RS 100 dominated this fleet taking first in all three races. Adrian Baker in his Streaker and Paul Taylor Blaze shared the 2^nd places between them except for race 1 where Charlotte Gwyther in her Laser finished in front of them both. At the end of the first day Richard Russell was 1^st followed by Adrian Baker in 2^nd and Paul Taylor in 3^rd. Robby Boyd was all alone in the slow fleet in his RS Terra so took 1^st in all three races. On day 2 Richard Russell continued his unbroken run of wins, discarding a 1^st place to take the honours. Adrian Baker remained in 2^nd followed by Paul Taylor in 3^rd. Charlotte Gwyther took 4^th place beating dad on count back. Young Robby continued his steady march taking the Slow fleet honours.