Sunday Early Points results and reports

Sunday Early Series Resumes - 12th April

Written by Leslie Ross Monday, 12 April 2010 21:12

Race Officer, Simon Ward, set a course to suit a cold Easterly wind which was then rendered a little boring because of a wind shift and a strong ebb tide. With the wind averaging around 10 knots but with gusts, Simon also set a running start, very unusual, but it made all 28 competitors think. The run was down tide to Plus mark, a close fetch to Walbank, a short cross tide beat to West and a long fetch to Jack in The Basket. The skill was to start well and get free air, and then to judge the tacks out into the tide.

The fast fleet were a little depleted by a number of regulars on volunteer duty. Seven starters got cleanly away and on a course that should have suited the single sail RS 600 and the Contender, a number of mishaps and some patches on the wind meant that Tig Williams and David Gautier were to drop back from overall contention. Nigel Walbank in his Musto Skiff sailed into a big lead and took the win despite having one capsize. Royal Lymington YC Secretary Kevin Podger, crewed very ably by Heather Chipperfield sailed an impeccable race to take second. Tig Williams had just done enough to take third.

In the medium handicap fleet 21 starters, the course suited the Blaze dinghy, able to use their power upwind to punch the tide a bit faster than the slower boats in the fleet and it was very difficult to get clear air for those behind the leaders. Series leader Leslie Ross had a flying start and was then able to open up a lead. After an undistinguished start the other Blazes in the fleet also began to show and Myles Mence from Royal Solent moved steadily into second place The race was settled on the second lap when Ross's mainsheet uncleated and he fell out of the boat in the process. While Ross was getting back on board Mence swept by and although Ross was quickly into pursuit Mence steadily opened up his lead and took the win with Ross second, consolidating his overall series lead.

A further 4 minutes back on handicap Mike Beggs and Vicki Lean in their Stratos put together an excellent race in conditions that were not ideal for this class. This was especially notable as it was very unlikely that they would be ready as they rigged a new mast, having broken one earlier in the week. The improving Nick Fagan took an excellent fourth from Keith Willis sailing with young son Liam in their RS Vision. The big fleet of Lasers were led home by Steve Goacher but the conditions did not suit this fleet and he finished 7th on handicap.

The club have started training for junior sailors in the RS Feva class. More than holding their own in mid fleet Anna Prescott and Jess Eales showed a number of much more experienced sailors the way home. The club is hoping to see more Fevas joining in and the next opportunity will be on Wednesday evening when the Clubs evening series starts.

Sunday Early Points - March 28th - "Biscuits" wins again and "Wave Rider" back on form

Written by Leslie Ross Monday, 29 March 2010 22:06

On Sunday the 28th 28 dinghies crewed by 40 competitors came to the Baverstock line, attracted by milder conditions and the promise of moderate breezes. The conditions favoured those boats with the most power off wind, as the beats were with the tide with average wind speeds of 12 knots and gusts just under 15 knots. Race Officer Tony Stickland and his assistant Paul Hinett set a long course which meant that only two laps were possible.

The fast fleet was made up of an International 14, a 29er, three RS600s and two RS 400s and a Contender. For the second week running Peter Conway and Ginny Harvey in the Fourteen, Hairy Biscuits were soon in the lead. The huge sail area that they set downwind means that they can “power up” in these conditions. Peter is a highly capable sailor and with many years of experience and with a very capable crew in Ginny are able to get the very best from “Biscuits”. The 29er, sailed Geoff Havers crewed by Jo Barriball also used their power off wind to break away from the less powered boats. They trailed Peter and Ginny by 15 minutes on the water and by 10 minutes on corrected time.

In the pack, Myles Mence from Yarmouth, recovered from being over the line and came through the pack on the run. The Lasers of Tim Knight and Steve Goacher were having a battle. The conditions also suited two of the slowest boats in the fleet, the Streaker of Adrian Baker and the Lightning of John Claridge.

The race was decided on the second lap. Russell easily held off the fast challenging Ross at + mark and again headed for the shore and into an unassailable lead. Ross decided to sail directly for East Mark and lost out to Beggs who led the normally faster Blaze at East and easily held off Ross on the beat. Mence came in behind Ross. Steve Coacher took the inshore route and overhauled Knight to finish next on the water but he was not able to save his time on the Streaker and the Lightning.

Sunday Early Points Results available here >>

Sunday Early Points - March 21st - Hairy Biscuits and Blaze on Fire

Written by Leslie Ross Monday, 22 March 2010 21:30

Sunday 21st saw Race 4 of Lymington Town Sailing Club’s Early Series. The race was held in brilliant sunshine and 12 knots of breeze, perfect spring like conditions.  The flood tide and a westerly wind saw flat conditions and long beats.  Race officer Keith Moody assisted by his wife Nicky set a longer course for the fast fleet, taking the small fleet down to Pennington and back to Jack in the Basket which he shortened after 4 laps.  Just before the start the wind had a fickle period and for a time the becalmed fleet were unable to stem the tide.  The breeze filled in just at the start which was won by Tig Williams in his RS 600 and he opened up an early lead.  This was short lived. Tig was overhauled by the evergreen Peter Conway and Ginny Harvey sailing their powerful International 14 Hairy Biscuits.  Peter and Ginny were not to be headed and built a long lead which was enough to save their time and take their first win of the series. Tig also gambled a bit too hard when dodging the tide and ran his 600 onto a ledge which led to a capsize.  This let David Gautier get back into contention in his Contender and he grabbed second place on handicap. 

The medium fleet had 13 starters who enjoyed a simple triangular course of Walbank, West and Jack in the Basket taking in Baverstock on each lap.  The tide ensured that no one was too eager and the fleet got away with no incidents.  Leslie Ross's Blaze was quick to show and led at the first mark.  Mike Beggs and Vicki Lean in their Stratos Red Devil were next to show and they flew their spinnaker to good effect, but with the first reach tight and then a run to Jack they could not make any impression on Ross.  They were in a battle with the Laser of Tim Knight and the Blazes of Simon Ward and Nick Fagan.  Further back but enjoying these lighter breezes was the Streaker of Adrian Baker.  Simon Ward took second place on the water but two penalty turns during the race meant that he did not have the distance to save his time on the Red Devil crew and Tim Knight.

With Ross having a big lead and lapping back markers on his fourth lap, the Race Officer shortened course at just over the hour, sensibly using the average lap system, which allowed everyone to head back for the comforts of the Clubs bar and restaurant, roughly at the same time. 

Sunday Early Points - March 14th - Early series drama and rescue impacts windy race 3

Written by Leslie Ross Tuesday, 16 March 2010 21:00

The third race of the series was impacted by the sudden illness of club member Frank Wenman who became ill during racing. Combined services including coordination by the Coastguard, where the Club's excellent rescue team got the casualty to shore quickly and this led to a helicopter flight to Dorchester hospital. Frank experience chest pains and with the symptoms of a suspected heart attach, the race officer, David Gorringe coordinated the rescue fleet, to get Frank to shore at full speed. Fortunately Frank has recovered and left hospital after two days of medical supervision.

Frank was racing in the third of Lymington Town's early series, held in brisk northerly breezes which averaged over 20 knots of northerly wind, with strong gusts to over 25 knots across the course. Being offshore the wind was shifty making for very difficult conditions. Dave Gorringe set a fair line and after a short beat sent the fast fleet off to Lymington Bank buoy. The medium fleet was set an inshore course but then was beset with issues and mishaps including Frank's rescue and the recovery of his Wayfarer dinghy.

In the fast fleet Richard Lilley was first to show in his Musto Skiff Spanky, soon hurtling off wind, along with the rest of the fleet, flying spinnakers. In shifting gusting breezes, the fleet were soon struggling. The 29er, Orangina, Geoff Havers and Declan Clamp were going well but capsized in a strong gust. Lilley was master of the conditions and built up a huge lead. David Gautier in his in his Contender and Nick Simmons and Dan Dytch in their RS400 were the only teams who escaped capsize. Series leader Tig Williams and the "Rarely Sober" team of John Cooper and Becci Wigley, normally very capable in a blow both had capsizes but recovered to complete the course.

By his second lap Lilley was well clear and he raced into a growing lead which he held to the finish. He won by a massive 13 minutes on handicap which no doubt will be one of the biggest wins of the year. The strong breezes suited the Contender and David Gautier who is another consistent performer in a big breeze held off the RS400 of Simmons and Dytch for second. Orangina had another capsize but recovered to fourth.

The medium fleet had an adventurous day, with course confusion, the rescue and the weather to contend with. The result is uncertain and is subject to protest and requests for redress.

Overall Results - (Medium Fleet race 3 result subject to protest / request for redress)