Payne excels in blustery conditions

A report from the XOD Central Solent Championships

Day1

A compact windward leeward course, blustery conditions and some of the big guns from the XOD fleet on the start line, everything was in place for some good close racing on day 1 of the XOD Central Solent Championships.

The first boats arrived at the race area to find a shifty WSW wind under a number of dark menacing clouds. However as start time approached the skies cleared a little, the wind direction settled and strength increased into the high teens.

Race one saw Swallow (X166) on her first outing of the season lead at the top mark followed closely by the tightly bunched fleet including Ted Roose Thora X101 and Neil Payne Quest X53. By the second lap it was nip and tuck between three boats with Quest X53 opting for the left side of the beat and in the process overhauling X166 and X101 to take the bullet up the short final beat to the finish.

The wind was gradually increasing and had already inflicted gear failure to a number of boats who limped back into the Hamble River.

After an adjustment to the start line by the HRSC committee, race 2 was soon under way. Once again a short first beat resulted in the fleet arriving at the top mark like a swarm of killer bees. Peter Baines at the helm of John Harding’s Calypso X90 rounded first with the laurence bothers Catherine X26 and X53 in hot pursuit. A small kerfuffle at the top mark led to a number of the chasing bunch to lose touch with the leaders. However all was not well with the front runners! X53 lost the kite halyard, X90 experienced gooseneck failure and X166 traveller had let go. All managed to nurse their boats to the finish behind the Laurence Brothers who took a well deserved first place sailing two up!

Another victim to the conditions was X81 which lost the mainsail when all the sail slides decided to part company with the mast track!

With the wind now gusting up well into the high 20s, the five race program was reduced and race 3 would be the last for the day.

After climbing the rig in difficult conditions between races to sort the spini halyard issue, X53 was back up and running and again out in front . The rest of the fleet could be covered with a large table cloth with X26, X54, X101 and X166 all in with a chance! Up wind was now punishing with some nasty gusts and a short chop and down wind there was more rocking and rolling, than you used get at a Status Quo concert!

After two laps X 53 clung onto first with X26 2nd and Nick Brebner 3rd.

At the end of the days racing most boats quickly dashed back into the shelter of the Hamble River and comfort of the HRSC with X53 leading overall followed by X26, X166, X101 & X54. With round the cans racing planned for the Sunday the event was still far from decided.

Day 2

At 11:00 the wind had already reached the strength of the previous day and it was also forecast to increase.

A number of boats poked their noses out of the Hamble River to take a look at the conditions, but soon returned to their moorings. Most of the fleet decided to save themselves and their Dacron from any further damage prior to a busy schedule with Classic and Cowes week only days away.

Probably the correct decision with wind now reading 30+ knots on Bramble Post.

Congratulations to Neil Payne who secured top spot, with the Lawrence Brothers in close second , Simon Russell and Ted Roose in 3rd and 4th.

Results:

Pos	Boat	Name		Club	Results	Tot
1	Quest	Neil	Payne	Royal Solent YC	1,2,1	4
2	Catherine	Steve	Lawrence	Itchenor	5,1,2	8
3	Swallow	Simon	Russell	HRSC	2,3,5	10
4	Thora	Ted	Roose	ISC	3,8,4	15
5	Lark	Nick	Brebner	HRSC	8,6,3	17
6	Kathleen	MOS	Fitzgerald	R Lym YC	6,7,7	20
7	Xpiditious	James	Markby	HRSC	10,4,6	20
8	Calypso	John	Harding	HRSC	4,5,18	27
9	Satu	Andy	Hamlett	HRSC	13,18,3	31
10	Sapphire	Jeremy	Field	CCYC	9,9,18	36
11	Lizz Whiz	Thom	D'Arcy	Royal Solent YC	7,18,18	43
12	Fantasy	Philip	Almeida	HRSC	14,11,18	43
13	Aora	Sarah	Ross	Itchenor SC	11,18,18	47
14	Judy	Bill	Mallam	Itchenor SC	12,18,18	48
15	Mischief	Diana	Wilson	HRSC	18,18,18	54
16	Ariel	D	Law	Itchenor SC	18,18,18	54
16	Zoe	Peter	Flanders	Parkstone YC	18,18,18	54