Royal Lymington Yacht Club welcomes 2022 Albacore National Championships

THE Royal Lymington Yacht Club (RLymYC) recently hosted the three-day 2022 Albacore National Championships sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance.

The club welcomed twenty-seven of the double-hander helms and crews from sailing clubs across the UK at their Western Solent base.

Sunshine, warmth and summertime smiles were the order of the weekend.

Friday provided two quadrilateral races in a shifty six knots, with three more managed in the almost non-existent variable wind on Saturday.

Fortunately, a deep airfoil section centreboard and rudder make the Albacore highly manoeuvrable in even the lightest breezes.

Sunday provided a south-westerly sea breeze with a steady 10-12 knots, perfect for the triangle and sausage courses set by the race team, who commented on the fiercely competitive nature of the participants.

Lymington Town Sailing Club members Neville Herbert and Karl Thorne were crowned National Champions, narrowly beating veteran Mike McNamara from Grimsby and Cleethorpes Yacht Club’s Colin Gardiner. The third place position went to Mike Hartley from West Kirby Sailing Club, crewed by Mark Hinton.

RLymYC rear commodore of sailing, Jenny Wilson, said: “It was fantastic to welcome the 2022 Albacore Nationals to the club. The Albacore fleet were delightful visitors, and despite the light airs, all appeared to have a great time.

“Many thanks to the RLymYC race management team and all the other volunteers who helped contribute to a successful three-day event.”

RLymYC welcomes sailors of various levels of experience and ability, from beginners to international sailors. For more information, visit lymyc.org.uk – alternatively, new members can contact membership@rlymyc.org.uk or call 01590 672677.