The annual Long Distance Race to Lymington & back is planned to take place on Saturday 31st May 2008.
This is a very popular race, with only boats whose PY is below 1060 being eligible for entry. Members whose boats are not eligible are more than welcome to meet at the half-way point, Lymington Town Sailing Club for food & drink in the bar!
With a write up of a previous year's long distance race, here's Roger...
It was a bright morning when some hardy, brave souls started to assemble on the beach at a not uncommon time of the morning. Long Distance Race day had arrived and all those that sometimes get a bit bored with sailing on the same piece of water were looking forward to disappearing into unfamiliar waters.
Eleven boats, including several from the Activity Centre, took to the water and milled around while those of us that had decided that sitting comfortably in a safety boat was more sensible than actually sailing got our act together and flew some flags.
Unusually there was a light wind from the South East, which meant a broad-ish reach all the way to Lymington. George Campbell got off to a flying start and disappeared past the outfall before most of the rest had really got going. Tony Bates had an early dip when he decided to put up his spinnaker on the Vortex. Whoever thought to put a spinnaker on that boat was a brave man indeed. One of the Dart 18’s from the Activity Centre was seen to have a very strange looking spinnaker at one stage. I ambled over in the safety boat and took great delight in suggesting that perhaps their spinnaker was rigged the wrong way. They also had the halyard twisted up. I understand that they did eventually get it sorted out. The boat was new to them apparently. Well, I suppose that is as good an excuse as any.
All had a pleasant sail down the Solent. The wind was so light that the Round the Island fleet was still between Yarmouth and the Needles as we approached Lymington. Several boats got the tactics wrong and were carried down by the tide and ended up beating back to the finish line at the entrance to Lymington river. Despite this, all eleven boats finished within twenty minutes of each other, which was quite surprising. It did mean that we did not have to bob up and down at anchor waiting for the stragglers, which is what usually happens.
Pamela was waiting at the sailing club with our car with all the dry clothing stacked in the back so once all the boats were sorted and safe it was into the changing rooms and off for a beer or two and lunch in Lymington Town Sailing Club.
The sun was shining at this stage and it was really warm out on the new balcony that the club has had built. It must have been warm as there were people in the lido beneath the club. Lunch was up to the usual standard that we have come to expect at Lymington. Everyone sat around for a couple of hours hoping that the wind would turn around to the South West and get stronger.
This did not happen and the race home was started, beating to windward in quite light winds. It was a real lottery as to which way to go. Some boats went out to the channel to catch the tide and some went inshore to get out of the lea of the Island. Both tactics seemed to be about equal at the end of the day. There were some awful holes in the wind, which left several of the boats floundering around for periods of time. The lucky ones managed to sail around these and keep going. It was a long way home and the last boat did not finish until nearly 1830hrs.
It was a good day enjoyed by all. The whole event was much better organised this year, with all requirements covered which led to a very smooth days racing. Perhaps a few more of you could be tempted into it next year….?!