Lymington XOD Fleet report 2021
The start of the 2021 season for XODs saw the return of nearly all of our fleet as Covid restrictions gradually diminished and we started to believe we were nearing the end of the pandemic.
Spring Series and Transfers
The Spring Series trophy was scooped up by Rory Paton in XL but there were a number of serious contenders emerging for his Cock Boat crown! We would need to wait until the end of the summer season to see who would finally emerge with the overall combined Saturday and Wednesday title.
A few boats changed hands in the transfer season, a process that appears quite secretive and certainly more closely guarded than news from Downing Street!
Numbers at Lymington have remained fairly stable and healthy. We’re delighted to have Andy Oddie, with Magic Dragon, starting to race more frequently at Lymington and performing well at Cowes Week. Fred Stone had acquired Southwind last year and has become a regular racer and social stimulus! Fury was acquired by John Fitzsimons, and Chris Hawes took a share in Dolce Vita and they are now joining in the fun. We look forward to seeing them on a regular basis.
Lymington XOD Week
Lymington XOD Week was held in late June and brought thirty boats to the start line, including seven visiting crews, which was great to see. Conditions proved quite tricky with big fluctuations in wind strength and direction, often mid race, compounded by fairly strong tides.
Malcolm McKeag and his faithful race team with David da Cunha ‘on the bridge’ of his Targa 27 committee boat, somehow managed to get at least one race completed every day.
Racing was very competitive resulting in six different race winners but Monday’s brace for Jolyon Hutchinson’s Condor with Nick Rogers on the tiller gave him the overall title, beating Lone Star on count-back. The return of socialising, albeit just on the balcony, provided a very welcome boost to all involved!
Cowes Week
The team of Paul Woodman, Oliver James and Phil Lawrence on Lone Star began to become a regular podium fixture and took this form to Cowes Week where they finished second overall in another difficult regatta of variable conditions.
XOD Points Series
Paul, Oliver and Phil's consistency with five race wins secured top spot in the Saturday series ahead of Nik and Roy Froud in Venus who themselves bagged three good wins.
The Wednesday points series was won by XL ahead of Lone Star, five and four race wins respectively, with Phil and Jo Brewer in Zest and Eric Williams with Tim Blackwell in Mersa each winning three races but accepting that you have to stay right at the top of your game to win the series overall!
So in a tight contest the Cock Boat crown shifted over to Lone Star, many congratulations to them on a successful season.
The Club Series
This year saw the reworking of the handicap system becoming open to all boats and rebranded as the Club Series. Barry Dunning in Crumpet took the Saturday Club series while Ray Mitchell in Helena won the Wednesday series with Ian Burr in Diana second in both.
Autumn Racing
Autumn brought some great racing with an empty Solent and often near perfect conditions as a bonus. The Saturday series was again won by Lone Star but the Wednesday and overall title went to Jeremy Baker in Clair de Lune with Simon McCarthy and Phil Brewer taking turns in the back of the boat.
Crumpet again took the Overall Club Series also winning Wednesdays while Robert Young in Red Coral took the Saturday title.
In total we managed 44 days of racing in 2021 and look forward to even more sailing - and more social engagement - in 2022!
XOD Prize Giving Dinner
Covid has still had an impact on our social activities but we were lucky enough to have a well attended and enjoyable prize giving dinner at the end of November. We used this opportunity to pay homage to the legendary Jardine twins, Stuart and Ado, who have both retired from XOD racing after more than a century of combined years associated with XODs! These Olympians have managed to remain at the top of the game for so many years which is truly remarkable and their generosity in sharing their knowledge is quite humbling - we salute them both!
Phil Brewer
Captain Lymington XOD division
Click here to see more photos from 2021 on the XOD Image Gallery and Race Records page
Click here to find out more about our XOD Fleet
