20 X-Yachts took part in this year’s Round the Island race.  ISC Division 4A Class had close racing between a brand new X4.9, and an Xp50 and X50, with the 3 boats taking 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places.

Report by Brian Thomas, X332, Tyke.

We had a good start by clearing the Outer mark by 2 feet. Well judged, I thought as the Outside appeared to be the most popular and most advantageous. With a WNW light wind we got stuck into a steady tacking mode but the lighter boats had a better speed. Good progress was made but Eric the days skipper was fretting as to whether we would make the Pinnacles before the tide turned against us. I was not at all phased until we got to within 200 metres and the tide seemed to push us favourably down to the turn. The wind dropped and we were getting very close to the rocks at the Pinnacle lighthouse turn. Then TYKE became "locked in chains". I quickly took the helm and jibed back but we were the main attraction for a sightseeing boat which blocked our wind. Some unworldly expletives could be heard. We managed to sail away from the rocks. A quick tack back and we were on the west side of the IOW and hoisting the spinnaker.

A good spinnaker run saw us all the way to St Cath’s and with a good following tide weren’t too far away from the leading fleet with many more boats behind us. As we passed Sandown an unforced gybe in difficult downwind conditions was called for which didn’t go too well and we had to unfurl a triple spinnaker wrap.

We turned the Bembridge Bouy after a good spinnaker drop and powered onto the beginning of the Solent Run. A large number of yachts were now stranded trying to get to the middle of the Solent whilst inside Ryde there was some wind which we happily followed. Eric the skipper for the day was keen to follow some boats that were sailing across the middle of Ryde sands. Umhh! would we have enough under our keel?. Perhaps I should have done my homework? So we kept close to but still inside the Outer Ryde stick and still had plenty of wind. What a nice site to behold with so many boats now behind us.

We carried on licking our lips. With 20 minutes to the finish line we were placed 4th in our Class 3A. But we had to make a tack to get back on line.  But a great days sailing and a superb result.

We later saw Tyke on south today. Avoiding the pinnacles lighthouse. Perhaps the helicopter was hoping we might have to be rescued?  No chance!

X-Yachts 3rd place Line honours. TYKE

X-Yachts X-332. 1st place

 

 

 

Trophy winners. Crakajax. X95. 3rd time winner of X -yachts RTI Race. 4 x winner Solent Cup. 3 x winner RORC Half Ton Cup.

Well Done TYKE skipper and Crew.

 

Photos from other participating X-Yachts

 

Results of X-Yachts

Sail number	Boat name	Boat type	TCC	Division	Start	Finish	Elapsed	Corrected	Overall	Group	Pos
GBR809	LUTINE	X55	1.199	IRC Division 0	06:30:00	17:03:25	10:33:25	12:39:28	275		14
GBR1010L	XINSKA	X 40	1.094	IRC Division 1A	07:00:00	16:57:15	09:57:15	10:53:23	139	19	8
GBR8601T	ALISON MARY	X442	1.055	IRC Division 1B	07:00:00	18:15:04	11:15:04	11:52:12	241	41	12
GBR8092T	TEXA	X 442	1.076	IRC Division 1B	07:00:00	18:19:09	11:19:09	12:10:46	259	50	16
GBR9863	IN X CELSIS	X 119	1.038	IRC Division 1C	07:00:00	18:38:20	11:38:20	12:04:52	255	47	15
GBR3481L	BLUE EXTASY	X-Yacht 412	1.015	IRC Division 2A	07:20:00	18:10:16	10:50:16	11:00:01	160	21	5
GBR1575L	PURE ATTITUDE	X-yachts 37	1.022	IRC Division 2A	07:20:00	18:19:03	10:59:03	11:13:33	195	46	9
GBR3737L	UNRULY	X.Yacht 37	1.019	IRC Division 2A	07:20:00	18:36:54	11:16:54	11:29:46	225	69	16
GBR3246L	AURA	X 34 (Shallow Draft)	0.985	IRC Division 2C	07:20:00	18:41:32	11:21:32	11:11:19	192	44	11
GBR922R	JUNO	X34	0.994	IRC Division 2C	07:20:00	18:39:18	11:19:18	11:15:13	200	51	13
GBR6895T	XCITABLE	X362 Sport	0.997	IRC Division 2C	07:20:00	18:41:51	11:21:51	11:19:48	210	58	15
GBR7662T	TYKE	X332	0.969	IRC Division 3A	07:30:00	18:31:57	11:01:57	10:41:26	110	92	19
GBR585T	2XS	X-99	0.971	IRC Division 3A	07:30:00	18:34:20	11:04:20	10:45:04	118	98	22
ESP5784	ALEXA	X332	0.968	IRC Division 3A	07:30:00	18:38:44	11:08:44	10:47:20	125	103	25
GBR4350L	FELIX	X332	0.971	IRC Division 3A	07:30:00	18:40:12	11:10:12	10:50:46	136	106	28
GBR7253T	ILEX OF UPNOR	X332	0.964	IRC Division 3A	07:30:00	19:00:09	11:30:09	11:05:18	172	115	35
GBR754R	XTRACT	X302	0.924	IRC Division 3B	07:30:00	18:28:29	10:58:29	10:08:26	50	50	12
GBR4080T	CRAKAJAX	X 95	0.898	IRC Division 3C	07:30:00	18:32:05	11:02:05	09:54:33	32	32	13
IRL4918	XSTATIC	X Yacht X4.9	1.096	ISC Rating System Division 4A	07:10:00	17:39:32	10:29:32	11:29:58	134	6	1
IRL10050	TOUCHE	X 50	1.130	ISC Rating System Division 4A	07:10:00	17:23:19	10:13:19	11:33:03	138	9	2
GBR50X	XTRAVAGANCE	XP50	1.169	ISC Rating System Division 4A	07:10:00	17:10:26	10:00:26	11:41:54	153	18	3
NED8174	XSTREAM	XC 42	1.013	ISC Rating System Division 4C	07:10:00	18:41:15	11:31:15	11:40:14	148	13	6
GBR8750T	MARIS OTTER	X Yacht 382	1.005	ISC Rating System Division 5A	07:40:00	18:52:00	11:12:00	11:15:22	109	38	8
GBR5526T	QUICKSTEP	X -302 shoal keel	0.949	ISC Rating System Division 7C	08:00:00	19:39:06	11:39:06	11:03:27	78	25	11