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XOD racing at Poole Week 2024

by Steve Dover 4 Sep 19:03 NZST 25-30 August 2024

It's life Jim, but not as we know it

Four Itchenor XOD boats boldly beamed themselves over to Parkstone where they encountered a far flung galaxy of XOD sailors. Some things were exactly the same, but others oddly different.

The XODs were moored alongside in pontoon berths, you simply stepped onboard - no fearful scrambling off a club rib. The locals had an unusual dawn ritual - they swam down and scrubbed their keels, every day. There were two races starting at a civilised 2pm, followed by free beer afterwards, but mysteriously only two beer tokens per boat - who would/should lose out?

They ambitiously scheduled 'round the island races' but no one ever made it round. Races were started off a fixed platform and you had to cross through the finishing line after every lap. Strange tidal channels threaded their way through the ever so shallow harbour - with confusing double high waters - do they have two moons? The sailing club was indeed vaguely reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise. However the natives were exceedingly friendly.

The bold Itchenorites were not to be outgunned and scored a laudable 1st, 3rd, 5th and 22nd overall. Winds varied from rollicking 20 knots to gentle 5 knot zephyrs. X91 Astralita (John Tremlett, Fraser Graham, and Tim Copsey) - with X91 impressively sailed solo non-stop from Chichester harbour by Tim Copsey - dominated with three firsts and four seconds in the 9 race series, to repeat their success of last year.

X58 Madelaine (Penny Fulford, Nigel Buckley and Jonathon Clark) won the last race in fine style to score 21 points and secure third overall, just ahead of local legend Willie McNeill sailing X123 Lara, and behind 2nd placed Nik Froud in X72 Venus from Lymington.

X187 Zoe (lent to Roger Yeoman and Chris Darling, and crewed variously by Paul Ward, Nick Andrews, Miles DB-M and John Hodgart) presented a new variant of XOD complexity, but our heroes made it through various trials and tribulations to secure 5th place. X152 Beaver (Chris Blevins reunited with his twin brother Tim and Anthony) were consistently in the teens and had intermittent appearances up at the near front. They did organise a dry delivery and found the facilities for craning in etc. to be excellent - maybe of interest for those thinking of travelling from other distant clubs next year.

In truth the week had a friendly vibe, and was a very pleasant counterpoint from the intensity of Cowes Week.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrew 1Crew 2ClubBoat NameR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
1st91John TremlettFraser GrahamTim CopseyItchenor SCAstralita1‑2‑622211211
2nd72Nik FroudMax Moyles Royal Lymington YCVenus3323‑5‑1332521
3rdX58Penny FulfordNigel Buckley ISCMadeleine5551‑1552‑8124
4th123William McNeillAndrew Tredrea Royal Motor YCLara211791‑11‑16425
5th187Chris DarlingRoger Yeoman Itchenor SCZoe(RET)49‑1111357342
6th165Barry DunningJonathan ClarkCarol DunningRoyal Lymington Yacht ClubTortoise49‑1541‑16912746
7th119Paul WoodmanOliver JamesPhil LawrenceRoyal Lymington YCLone Star76(DSQ)6‑17766947
8th34Eric WilliamsTim Blackwell Royal Lymington YCMersa11811513(OCS)4‑15658
9th40David LawJane ArnoldJane LawParkstone YCKyperini6‑153812810‑181259
10th25Jeremy Harford‑TappSimon Verner Parkstone YCMorven‑16108‑153111251564
11th193Nick FullagarPete VinceGeorge SteadParkstone YCSawdust91110‑19812‑1831366
12thX 29Tim MartinJohn Gale Parkstone YCCorisande1013414‑2214‑164867
13thX173Gillian EllisRupert AndersonAmy ClarkRoyal Lymington Yacht ClubHeyday12713131068‑14(DNC)69
14thX 143John EdmondsNigel WrigleyChristine LawParkstone YCSkiffle(DSQ)1212104‑1515131177
15thX61Richard BatchelorChris EdwardsDerrick GillParkstone YCSilver Wind8‑18‑181771013101681
16th13Andrew HillAndy HoughJulie HillParkstone YCMischief14(OCS)79618‑23172192
17th37Crispin TombsBrian Hitchcock Parkstone YCAriel1314‑2212‑26197111995
18thX74Don Hardytba Parkstone YCFiona17161720‑23(OCS)17918114
19th12Mark WoodhouseTessa WoodhouseJohn ChilversParkstone YCDawn‑2120161619921‑2317118
20thX43Tim Mellery‑PrattTony Mellery‑PrattJim AdamsParkstone YCMoonfleet1517(DNC)(DNC)16414DNCDNC122
21st196John WilsonIan DavidsonChris SmerdonParkstone YCSaranna19‑21141821(DNC)192110122
22ndX152Chris BlevinsTim BlevinsAnthony HargraveItchenor SCBeaver181921‑2318172020‑22133
23rdX120Peter ThomasPaul Rivers LathamJohn ShepherdParkstone YCXig Xag‑23‑2419211422221920137
24thX85Mike DrakeJohn Walker Parkstone YCHarlequin202220‑24‑2421242214143
25th160Simon BlackallerJames Willis Parkstone YCMerlin2223(DNC)‑252523252423165
26th89Jonthan NewtonBex GrangerEd FullerParkstone YCJinx(DNC)(DNC)23222020DNCDNCDNC169
27thX194Nick CornishViv Evans Parkstone YCAlvine(RET)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC196

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