RS800s at the Lymington Dinghy Regatta
by Nick Charles 10 Jun 10:51 UTC
1-2 June 2024
RS800s at the Lymington Dinghy Regatta © LTSC
The RS800s joined the party for the Lymington Dinghy Regatta last weekend, which was also part of the Rooster National Tour. The format was 3 races a day in a gusty Northerly and normal Lymington amounts of tides.
On Saturday the conditions were a bit more than forecast, and somewhere in the fresh to frighting range (20-25 knots). This was made much more challenging by the short chop kicked up by wind against tide. This made for an exciting days racing, which was gradually depleted by various issues including breakages and abandonments.
The races were fought out between Tim Gratton / James Cunnison and Frederick Lord / Louise Gale. The former getting the better of the latter in the 1st, 2nd, and almost the 3rd, until a capsized next to the finish line let Lord / Gale through. The fleet came off the water to be welcomed by donuts and later a BBQ / party at the combined clubs (Lymington Town and Royal Lymington)
With breakages fixed, and some returning from holiday the fleet was back up to strength for Sunday, with was a much calmer 8-15 knots, although the northerly direction ensured that there were plenty of holes, snakes and ladders.
The first race was led most of the way by Gratton / Cunnison, until they let local Gurus Luke McEwen / Hugh Shone through at the end of the last beat.
The second race was a close tussle between McEwen / Shone, Nick Charles / Dan Goodman and Bryan and Anna Ormand, with McEwen / Shone using their pace to again come out on top.
The wind started to play real games for the last race, with Charles / Goodman benefitting from a big shift up the 1st beat to lead throughout. Behind the Ormand's overtook Micheal and Samuel Dyer on the leg to the finish to claim 2nd.
Overall, their performances on Saturday meant that Gratton / Cunnison and Lord / Gale comfortably claimed 1st and 2nd with the Ormand just taking 3rd. Next up is the Europeans in Larmor-Plage, followed by the next Rooster tour event at Weston.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 1203 | Tim Gratton | James Cunnison | Royal Thames | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ‑4 | 4 | 9 |
| 2nd | 1224 | Frederick Lord | Louise Gale | Carsington | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ‑6 | 14 |
| 3rd | 820 | Bryan Ormond | Anna Ormond | Hayling | 3 | (DNC) | DNC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 23 |
| 4th | 1188 | Nick Charles | Daniel Goodman | | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| 5th | 1220 | Luke McEwen | Hugh Shone | RLYM | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 2 | 1 | 5 | 26 |
| 6th | 1087 | Tim Palmer | Lizzie Culwick | | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 5 | 6 | 7 | 36 |
| 7th | 1250 | Michael Dyer | Samuel Dyer | Herne Bay | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 3 | 39 |
| 8th | 1182 | David Kelly | Billy Russell | Largs SC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DSQ | 7 | RET | 43 |