Tight finish

Peter Baines wins XOD Central Solent Championships reports Simon Russell

Twenty-six XOD’s, including five past Cowes Week winners gathered in the Hamble for the annual Central Solent Championships hosted by the Royal Southern Y.C. Eight short sharp windward leeward races were planned for the weekend. With an excellent weather forecast of sun a sea breezes, everything was in place for some excellent racing.

The first of three races on day one was planned for a 12 o’clock start in race area near to the William buoy. PRO, David Arnold was keen to get the regatta underway. The wind had not really settled down and the fleet experienced a large shift up the first beat as the westerly breeze kicked in. The lead boats came from the left side of the course flying spinnakers to the top mark!

With a large shift the course was shortened to just one round. First place went to Mark and Peter Flanders in the recently restored Frivol from Parkstone with Alan Mcmurtry in La Mouette a close second ahead of David Lindsey 3rd sailing his first regatta in Caprice after salvaging her from a garden in Cowes 2 years ago.

With the wind now settled races 2 and 3 were sailed in a building WSW breeze. David Tabb at the helm of Mike Pascalls Zoe made up for a last place in race 1 to win race 2. James Roy in Elicia was second with Tim Martin in X29 third. Failing to pass through the start line on the upwind leg of the second beat would prove costly for Alan Mcmurtry as he would have come home overnight leader instead he scored a DNF.

Race 3 was sailed in the best breeze of the day. The heavyweights in Lass finally made it up to speed and held onto the lead from the first mark rounding to take the gun. Caprice and LaMouette again showed good speed to finish ahead of Peter Baines who scored his second 4th place of the day.

On arrival back at the Royal Southern dock, the fleet enjoyed a refreshing drinks reception held on the club pontoon. A nice way to end the day after a sweltering day on the water!

Top 3 on day one
X31 Frivol 1,7,8
X146 Caprice 3,11,2
X80 Lass 11,6,1

A hot morning and little breeze greeted the crews on Saturday. The Fleet were kept ashore with a one-hour postponement. As the boats finally made their way out to the start area, a light SW breeze had begun to build and David Arnold soon had racing underway. Peter Baines made a good start to the day with a bullet in race 4 ahead of Peter Taylor in X192 and Alistair Ashford in X177. With another win going to David Tabb in race 5 and Lass once again winning the last race of the day helped them to stay in touch with the leaders. The top of the leader board was extremely close with five or six boats capable of winning the event going into the last two races.

Positions at the end of day two

X187 David Tabb 24
X2 Peter baines 24
X31 M&P Flanders 24
X80 S.Russell 28
X192 Peter Taylor 32

A SE breeze was already building as the fleet left the dock on Sunday lunchtime. At start time it was 2/3-up hiking in the steady 14kt breeze. With this wind direction the strong spring tide was running straight down the course. Out of the start line the fleet drag raced to the left side of the course in attempt to find some tidal relief. Lass X80 rounded the top mark first with Steve Lawrence X26 close behind in second and Hugh Deavin in X190 third.

Tabb, Flanders and Baines were all in hot pursuit. Lawrence snatched the lead from Lass on the second beat to take his first win of the weekend. Hugh Deavin was now showing good form, but Baines only scored a seventh handing the advantage to Tabb, Flanders and Russell and now Lawrence ,who were all going into the last race just a few points apart.

The final race started with disaster for Lawrence who lost his brother overboard just after the start line. He did recover him very quickly but was unable to catch the lead bunch. Baines was first to pop his nose out in front. Flanders and Tabb had worked their way to the right side of the fleet with Russell in Lass slightly buried on the start line and opting to take a few transoms and get clear air.

Baines led around the top mark with X192 and Colin Mckinnon in X171 Close behind.
Russell squeezed around in 7th ahead of a tightly bunched fleet with the Flanders emerging ahead of Tabb who was struggling amongst the tail of the fleet.

Baines' Palassie held on to the lead to the gun and won the event by 2pts from Lass who had worked their way up to forth by the final beat. This was just enough to beat the Flanders by a single point. Steve Lawrence made an excellent recovery together with his soggy brother to finish seventh ending up fourth overall. 16th in the final race dropped Tabb to 5th.

The Royal Southern and PRO David Arnold did an excellent job over the weekend. The racing was extremely close amongst the entire fleet with the final results not decided until the last beat of the final race.

Next week Battle will commence once again at Cowes week. Looking at the results competition for the prestigious Captain’s cup is closer than ever.

Many thanks to Clamcleat, Holt, Hyde Sails and North Sails who supported the event and all kindly donated some fabulous prizes.

Results (1 discard)
1st Palassie X2 Peter Baines 15,4,4,1,5,10,7,1 Pts 32
2nd Lass X80 S.Russell, D.Maple 11,6,1,9,12,1,2,4 pts 34
3rd Frivol X31 The Flanders 1,7,8,6,11,2,5,6 pts 35
4th Caterine X26 S&P Lawrence 5,8,11,5,6,7,1,7 pts 39
5th Zoe X187 D.Tabb, M.Pascall 21,1,5,4,1,13,4,16 pts 4