XOD class at Itchenor Keelboat Week - Day 2

Day two of Itchenor Keelboat Week was a slow and scorching start, with a postponement while we waited to see if the wind would fill in.

After a short paddle to the line of breeze waiting at the end of the moorings, the 23 X's made their way to the starting area, just above Baker were 5 to 8 knots from the WSW awaited. As the 5 min gun went, the age old debate of left or right was in full swing. At the gun 174 sailed by Alistar & Jackie Ashford, 91 with John Tremlett, Tim Copley & Fraser Graham were over the line and had to go back. Penny Fulford Nigel Buckley & JC in 58 were also over, but sadly hadn't realised.

So, with 50, 166, 58, 26 & 182 going left; with the bulk of the fleet, the right was lead by 172 sailed by David Howlett & Tom Watkins, with 188 & 71 not far behind. As the two sides converged at the first mark it was 172, 182 and 50, with no more than a boat length between them. A short two sail reach across the harbour to Johns Folly 182 had moved in to the lead, with 172 & 50 in hot pursuit on the beat to Dunes.

A slight reshuffle in the pack had seen 50 move comfortably into the lead and 172 dropping to 5th, after over-standing the mark and letting in 188 & 71. The status quo resumed on the run to a laid mark, with 50 leading ahead of 182, 188 and 71 who had an issue with the spinnaker drop, allowing 172 to play catch up on the run. As the fleet began the long beat to Kalvert, it was the tern of 71 & 182 to over-stand the mark, and 188 tacking early letting 172 back through, who along with 50 had judged it best.

Running against the tide for home, via Pivot and then a tight three sail reach to East Head, the race for 1st looked done with 50 out to a good lead; or so they thought and 172 comfortably 2nd. Once the boats bore off round East Head it was clear staying close to shore with clean air was key. 172 managed to navigate themselves furthest right and clear of the chasing pack, possibly with slightly more breeze and less tide they managed to reel 50 in, much to everyone surprise across the two boats.

With the two boat now neck and neck it came down to who was going to bear off and stick there nose in to the tide first, to get back across to the finish line at Wear. 50 went first with 172 going a few boat lengths later, which aloud them a better angle to snatch the victory away, after 2 hours and 10 mins, by a boat length!

A fantastic second day, with 172 being the cat among the pigeons. What will day three hold in store, will there be another unexpected winner, will the line be clear at the start? With slightly more wind forecast only time will tell.

Results after Day 2: