Lymington XOD fleet Wednesday Series Race 17

Excalibur returns for win after many close battles!

A spring ebb tide with a SE force 3 - 4 wind made for very interesting racing conditions with many options for the competitors. This resulted in many changes of leaders throughout the race.

Race Officer Nigel Thomas sent 13 starters off to mark X, Solent Bank, and this gave competitors the dilemma of whether to hug the mainland shore to get out of the tide or to beat directly into the ebb and aim for a lee bow. Three boats, X161, Mayday, David da Cunha, X87 Excalibur, newly in the ownership of John Oliff-Cooper and with previous owner Adrian Summers on board, and X57, Red Coral, Roy Froud & Robert Young opted to lee bow the tide with the rest of the fleet sailing further inshore in less tide but sailing a longer route.

Excalibur followed by Mayday and Red Coral rounded mark X a long way ahead of the fleet. The challenge for the leaders then was how to round mark 5, Harken, which is to the south of mark X off the Island shore. This too involved careful tactics against a strong ebb tide and in very patchy and shifty wind as it made its way over the cliffs to the east of Yarmouth.

Mayday, Red Coral and Excalibur rounded in that order and set off on a long run to mark B, Dunford, to the west of Oxey Lake. The first two boats struggled to find the correct angle to sail in the strong tide thereby sailing a longer course than necessary and allowing Excalibur and also N1, Xoanon, Paul Fisher, to make significant gains.

Mayday rounded mark B first just inside Red Coral followed by Excalibur and Xoanon. The very close fetch to mark F was exciting with Mayday working hard to keep between the mark and first Red Coral and then Excalibur with Xoanon able to make large gains on the three leaders by flying her spinnaker and sailing lower.

Mayday rounded first followed by Excalibur, Red Coral and Xoanon and with spinnakers hoisted the leaders set off to finish up river at the RLymC. Here Excalibur closed on Mayday and a series of gybes ensued as each tried to keep clear wind. However near the new barrier works Mayday gybed onto port tack but touched Excalibur – a mistake which cost her the race. After a penalty turn by Mayday, Excalibur took the lead to win followed by Red Coral, Xoanon and Mayday.

This was a very good tactical race and an excellent and challenging course enjoyed by all who took part.

Race 17 Results: (top five)

1st Excalibur, John Oliff-Cooper
2nd Red Coral, Roy Froud & Robert Young
3rd Xoanon, Carslaw, Fisher, Harris
4th Mayday, David da Cunha
5th Lone Star, Stuart Jardine

Full results can be found here.