Yacht Racing @ LTSC - An Introduction
Written by Robin Milledge Wednesday, 16 March 2011 20:26
LTSC has a long history of yacht racing, with many members over the years carrying the club burgee to success in both inshore and offshore races.
We work closely with two other Clubs in the Western Solent - The Royal Lymington Yacht Club and the Royal Solent in Yarmouth - to ensure that the opportunity to race is maximised by promoting each others series and races.
The Lymington Town Sailing Club has two series - The Classic and the Solent Circuit. These, along with some of our other races and activities are outlined below;
Solent Circuit
Our principle event each year is the Solent Circuit >>, the original ‘Winter Series’ for yachts racing in the Solent. In its heyday the Solent Circuit attracted up to 150 entries each year including grand prix racers and club sailors alike. With competition from other winter series events elsewhere in The Solent, entry numbers nowadays have settled to around 50 to 60 boats. Individual classes are run for IRC, Club Handicap and One Design classes with a minimum of six starters, which in recent years have included a strong showing from the Folkboats and RS Elites.
In addition to the Solent Circuit, the Club offers the following racing opportunities:
Classic Series
In addition to the Solent Circuit, LTSC also run the ‘Classic Series >>’ of races for keel boats throughout the Summer. This series comprises four races - Hamble Scramble (Lymington to Hamble /Hamble to Lymington), Newtown Race and Christchurch Ledge Race
The ‘Classic Series’ is an ‘Open’ event, with free entry to LTSC, Royal Lymington & Royal Solent members and a small entry fee for yachts from other clubs. Racing is run using the Lymington Handicap system and is less formal than the Solent Circuit, with the emphasis on participation and socialising with other sailors from around the Solent.
Hypotenuse
Three races over a long week end across the channel to Cherbourg, then on to St Vaast and then back to Lymington. On this week end we link up with the Clubs mini cruise and socialise on a layday in St Vaast. There are prizes for the series and individual races
Calvados Lid
Afternoon fun race against our French friends from Honfleur followed by supper in the Club
Calvados Cup
A two legged race across the Channel between Fecamp and the Nab Tower again against our friends from Honfleur. To date we have not managed to participate.
Children in Need Charity Pursuit Race
This race is now held on the Sunday after the Solent Circuit as close to the Children in Need w/e as possible. It has been run now for over 25years and is always followed by the Clubs unique and exciting Dutch Auction. The Club has raise over £35000 over the years for this worthwhile charity and at the same time given our members a lot of fun.
Open meetings at LTSC
In addition to running racing for our own members, LTSC hosts occasional regattas for other classes. In 2012 we will welcome back the Contessa 32 and Contessa 26 racing fleets on the same weekend of 22/23 September.
Open events throughout the Solent
In addition to the LTSC yacht racing program there are a wide range of other races which Club members can participate in. Our neighbours at The Royal Lymington YC and Royal Solent YC both run ‘Open’ events which LTSC members can join in with, including the Royal Lymington’s Spring Series and Thursday night racing and the Royal Solent’s Taittinger Regatta in August.
Elsewhere in The Solent there is a varied choice of racing to suit all types of boat and racing style. The Solent Cruiser Racing Association (SCRA) co-ordinate a full program of inshore racing throughout the year. The Royal Southampton YC organise an excellent Two Handed series and The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and Junior Offshore Group (JOG) offer sailors an extensive program of offshore races, including the famous Fastnet Race.
