"Itchenor is undoubtedly the best keel boat sailing club in the country."
Sunday Times 24 June 2012
News
May 28th
Hutcheson Cups
This series was held over the Bank Holiday Weekend May 25 – 27 and although the sun shone throughout the wind played tricks in the early part of the weekend.
Saturday afternoon’s race was held in a light and variable – mostly North Westerly – and with a strong ebb tide. A simple windward/leeward course on paper of an inflatable mark to windward near the “goalposts” and then to East Head proved a real challenge because of the tide. Two Xs mastered the conditions and a close race between Phoenix X186 and Harmony X132 resulted in a two boat length victory for Phoenix. The rest of the fleet was spread far and wide with some competing boats lapped by the first two.
Sunday morning promised little more wind despite the direction change to the West. Once again some boats mastered the conditions, this time with a flood tide to contend with. The course was changed to give the fleet a shorter challenge and at the finish it was again Phoenix first to cross a significant way ahead of the second and third boats Felix and Chartreuse. This season’s star boat to date, Lass, was 5th improving on the disappointing 11th on Saturday afternoon.
By the
afternoon a sea breeze had set in to give the fleet a cracking race up and down
the Rookwood reach to dispel the frustrations of the first two races. Lass
revelled in these conditions to finish just ahead of Phoenix with a close
battle for 3rd and 4th between Felix and
Chartreuse.
Neck and neck - a close finish between Lass and Phoenix photo - David Priscott
The final race was on Monday morning and the weather gods smiled. A clear blue sky and a force 3 SSW allowed another windward/leeward in the Rookwood Reach this time with windward leg against the tide. The lead changed hands as the race evolved with the early leaders Felix, Chartreuse, Astralita and Princess Jalina eventually overhauled by Phoenix and Lass.
The final results show that Phoenix and Lass win a Hutcheson Cup each with the Stocker fleet prize going to Harmony and the Pilsey prize toThalia.
Full results on the XOD-Itchenor web site.
May 6th
Felix Bowl
Competitors experienced a range of weather conditions over the bank holiday weekend. Saturday saw winds averaging 25 knots and very lumpy seas particularly with wind over tide. Sunday morning was cloudy with a moderate breeze and in the afternoon the sun broke through and encouraged a sea breeze to provide the best sailing of the weekend. Monday morning dawned with a mist on the water and no wind. A gentle sea breeze filled in about 1100 to provide gentle but challenging conditions in the strong ebb tide.
So to the racing: It was Lass in top spot in each race. A number of other boats challenged, some even getting ahead of her for a while. Among the challengers it was good to see Alastair Ashford on a brief visit from Antigua showing that despite the good life he has lost little of his touch in sailing Foxglove to series of good results.
Falconet scored an excellent 2nd in Saturday's first race with Ron Parker on the stick. Foxglove then scored two 2nds and a 3rd while Thora after a couple of 5th places improved with a 3rd and then two 2nd places. With Lass taking the Felix Bowl it was Thora taking 2nd position ahead of Foxglove as a result of the tie breaker. The Stocker prize goes to Harmony and the Pilsey fleet winner was Whisper.
May 1st
April Fool's Mug
During April we ran a 14 race series for the April Fool's Mug. The scoring is by the High Points system so that, as the fleet size increases, the points at stake for each race increase. Also only the best four races count to accommodate those boats who have to make the journey back from Bembridge or are at the back of Haines's shed. So in theory the series is not decode until the last race. However, Lass with 14 straight first place finishes was always favourite for the trophy. Beaver showed well particularly in the early races and deservedly won the Stocker prize. A total of 18 boats competed in this series with Thora and Princess Jalina taking 2nd and 3rd slots respectively. Veronique was awarded the Pilsey fleet prize.
April 2nd
After a weekend of sailing in cold (5°C) NEs mainly Force 4-5 the "Too" Early Start Series has produced a winner and the April Fool's Trophy (hear hear, I hear you say) has started.
The Easter Weekend saw 8 of the 10 boats afloat compete with wins for 80, 152 and 160 with Sunday having the best of the weather with bright sunshine.
Saturday afternoon's race saw the best get caught out by the challenges of the Gallon Reach on a falling Spring tide with the wind falling to Force 1-2 at the finish which resulted in the "Q" flag being used by the PRO when 4 of the 6 boats had to be towed in. Well done to 116 for being the 1st Pilsey boat to compete this year.
Congratulations to Lass for winning the ESS and to Beaver for winning the Stocker Fleet prize for this series. Full results
Scorer
We are delighted to announce that Dr Marjory Greig has accepted the role of Divisional Scorer. Marj will primarily use Sailwave to record our results. We thank her for taking on this important role
March 25th
XODs are emerging from the boatsheds looking resplendent in their new coats of varnish and are taking their places on the Itchenor Reach moorings.
We welcome two additional members of the division. Merlin (X160) has already arrived and is on the mooring ready to go in the hands of new members of the Itchenor X team - Roger Yeoman and Michael Moss. We hear that David Palmer is returning to active sailing at Itchenor with Princess Jalina (X188) formerly known as Extra when campaigned by Bill Warren.
