XOD Joan Shaw Trophy at Itchenor Sailing Club

X50 during the XOD Joan Shaw Trophy at Itchenor © Sula Riedlinger

Six XOD's would take to the start line for the first race and what would turn out to be the only race of the afternoon.

X177 helmed by Nick Andrews would lead the fleet off the line and make a charge for the incoming tide, closely followed by Wenda X71 and the all woman team on Thora X101. On the second lap a complete shut down in the wind meant Wenda found a zephyr or two to wiggle a way to a big lead and take the win, with X177 in second, X101 third, X132 fourth, X65 fifth and X152 in 6th.

With the wind now at less than two knots and the tide having turned and now going out, racing was abandoned for the afternoon and fleet towed home for tea & cake.

Sunday

As the fleet woke up to heavy rain and a light 8-12 knot Southerly, thoughts had turned to weather any one was actually going to show up for the two races scheduled.

In the end 4 X's made the trip to the club, by which time the rain had stopped and it all looked rather promising.

X39 with Roy Griggs at the helm, X26 being helmed by Chris Darling, X174 with Alastair and Jackie Ashford, who was making her crewing return following an injury sustained at Itchenor Keel Boat Week back in June, and X50 being sailed by Mike Moss & Tom Watkins sharing the helming duties as Roger was off in warmer climates, made their way to the start line. A short two lap windward leeward between East Head and Star awaiting them. As the gun went X174 eager to get going went to earlier and had to go back. X50 leading off the line decide to get across the tide early and head straight for the East Head shore with X26 closely following on their hip. With 174 now under way, they elected to split from the fleet and take the Pilsey shore. As the fleet came in to the top mark it was X50 closely followed by X26 and X174 coming in from the opposite shore to sneak round in 3rd ahead of X39.

Down the run X50, with now just about every bit of string changed since Cowes Week and trying to find all their settings again having not copied them across, managed to fend off the down wind rocket ship that is X26 to lead round Star. On the last beat to East Head X26 was forced to take off to clear their air from X50, which pushed them in to the incoming tide and ultimately left X50 to stride off not to be seen again. At the finish it was X50 in first, X26 second, X174 third having made a great recovery to close the gap on X26 and X39 fourth.

Race 2 saw the course board set up for a Dunes, Peacock, East Head, Thorney, Peacock, Gallon Line finish. With some ominous black clouds heading in the fleets direction X50 might of been forgiven for being eager to get away and having to 360 around at the committee boat, after X174 & X39 firmly shut the door on them and deciding that they didn't want to explain to Roger why Xcitation was firmly now in the cockpit of the committee boat. Not to be out done X26 all so managed to get there timing all wrong and were over early all by them selves on Port tack. So with the first two from race one deciding to make life hard for themselves, X174 took the opportunity to get themselves a good lead on the way to Dunes.

The ominous black cloud had now gone around the fleet thankfully but had sadly decided to take the wind with it. X174 & X50, now back up to second, had decided to get themselves across to East Head beach early, where an Americas Cup style tacking battle furiously took shape. I say furiously, but in the slop of the shallow water, sub 5 knots of wind and incoming tide, a tortoise could of walked faster. They continued to battled on with it now clear the win was going to come from one of these two, as X26 & X39 where stuck over the Stocker bank, struggling to cross the channel to even get near Dunes.

On the crawl back to Peacock, the race officer thankfully shorted course straight to the Gallon Line finish, much to the relief of the fleet. In the end X174 managed to hold on to win by a boat length, despite X50 throwing everything they could at them. X26 coming home 3rd and X39 in 4th.

This would see X50 Xcitation winning the trophy by a single point from X174 Fox Glove second and X26 Catherine third overall.

X39 Gone away would win the Stocker fleet & X101 Thora winning the Pilsey fleet. Congratulations all.

Next is the last big trophy of the year for the Autumn Championships on the 5th/6th of October hope to see you all out for it! Visitors are also welcome so come join in.