Sunshine and Smiles at the 2022 Lymington Dinghy Regatta

Sunshine, sailing and smiles were order of the weekend on 8th and 9th July at the Lymington Dinghy Regatta, supported by Harken UK and Nick Cox Chandlery.

This friendly annual open event sees a welcome collaboration between Royal Lymington Yacht Club and Lymington Town Sailing Club. The event has developed in recent years to be a very popular opportunity for local sailors to race in bigger fleets of all the local classes against some high quality visiting teams.

The regatta doubled up as a UK National Tour event for the RS700 and RS800, with class racing also for the RS500 and RS Aero.

With 116 boats entered in this year’s regatta, the slipway launch and river were an impressive sight, with dinghies of all sizes stretching as far as the eye could see.

Fleets were divided into two race courses: the Medium and Slow handicap fleets and the RS Aeros to the west and the RS800, RS700, RS500 and Fast handicap fleets to the east.

Racing took place on Saturday once the sea breeze kicked in. On Sunday two races were held after a one hour postponement – all in brilliant sunshine! Tea and doughnuts were a welcome distraction for all competitors and volunteers on their return to shore each day after racing.

Sailors gathered at Royal Lymington on the Saturday evening for a ‘Pie and Pub Games’ night, that was very well received, great fun for all.

The event was organised jointly by the two Clubs, the west course managed by the RLymYC race team and the east course by the LTSC race team. Many thanks to all who volunteered - both afloat and ashore, for what was a superb weekend.

RS800 Results

• 1st - Luke McEwen / Emma McEwen (RLymYC
• 2nd - Tom / Guy Fillmore (HISC)
• 3rd - Sam Jones / Sam Webb (RLymYC)

RS 700 Results

• 1st - Matt Carter (Lancing SC)
• 2nd - John Booth (Stokes Bay SC)
• 3rd - Pete Purkiss (Brightlingsea SC)

RS500 Results

• 1st - Tim Wilkins / Heather Wilkins (Gurnard SC)
• 2nd - Mike Saul / Oliver Kent (Yorkshire Dales SC)
• 3rd - Robin Leather / Sophie Wright (Gurnard SC)

Aero Results

• 1st - Tim Hire - RS Aero 7 (LTSC)
• 2nd - Rupert Stock - RS Aero 7 (RLymYC)
• 3rd - Sammy Isaacs-Johnson - RS Aero 5 (Maidenhead SC)

Fast Fleet Results

• 1st - Richard Smith / Kathryn Smith - Javelin (Glossop SC)
• 2nd - Brian Earl/David Earl - Javelin (RLymYC)
• 3rd - Nick Craig - D-One (Burghfield SC)

Medium Fleet Results

• 1st - Ian Martin / Chris Martin - Merlin Rocket (Burghfield SC)
• 2nd - John Claridge / Peter Sanders - Seafly (RLymYC)
• 3rd - Matthew Podger - Laser (Oxford SC)

Slow Fleet Results

• 1st - Robert Claridge - Lightning 368 (RLymYC)
• 2nd - Mark Jenkins Jauma / Raffy Seddon - RS Feva (RLymYC)
• 3rd - Jeremy Cooper - Lightning 368 (Shotwick)

Royal Lymington Yacht Club welcomes dinghy sailors of all ages. The active dinghy fleet organises competitive dinghy racing for all classes under Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) handicaps and big one-design fleets. Monday Evening Dinghy Racing takes place at the Club from April to September, with Junior Dinghy Racing on Friday evenings. There are reciprocal arrangements to join the LTSC dinghy racing series on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. The club has two dinghy parks and a number of dinghies available for hire to members.

_{Find more information about dinghy sailing at RLymYC here}


Photo credit: Tim Olin