Geoff Havers wins inaugural Lymington Town Sailing Club's Santa Sailing Dash
THE Lymington Town Sailing Club held a Santa Sailing Dash to raise funds for Oakhaven Hospice.
The charity is close to LTSC members’ hearts as they recently named a race mark Oakhaven in memory of Sophie Beeton, wife of sailing secretary Alastair, who experienced first-hand the work and care the hospice provides patients and their families.
Whilst some LTSC members donned their running shoes and took part in the town’s Santa Dash, others tucked into a hearty athletes’ breakfast in the comfort of the Solent Room waiting for race officer Mark Barwell and assistant Lou Johnson to make a decision on the race.
With the winds reaching near 30 knots from the west and the tide about to ebb, sadly, the official series was cancelled. However a few eager beavers were keen to get out, so the informal Santa’s Sailing Dash to the Oakhaven mark and back was held for six boats.
The sailors got underway with a clear line, Pete Barton leading the way with a small following of RS Aeros in his wake. A downwind, and wobbly for some, blast was had. All but one boat survived the gybe, the one who tacked happened to be the first boat home.
Clearly having too much fun in the waves, some of the Aeros forgot to head back up the river and stayed out to play a bit longer. The punchy beat back to the finish saw Tig and Pete home first, followed by Julie Willis and Geoff Havers.
Winner of the 2018 LTSC Santa’s Sailing Dash went to Geoff Havers, for wearing his fancy dress combo of reindeer ears with a Santa outfit, making it out to Oakhaven mark, surviving the gybe and back! Tig Williams and Pete Conway also got a prize for being the first boat home in their 420.
The £59.15 raised from donations on the day will be added to the money collected at the LTSC Christmas concert for Oakhaven Hospice.
Lymington Town Sailing Club race every Sunday morning. For further details contact the office on 01590 674514 or e-mail the sailing secretary on sailing@ltsc.co.uk21
