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 Spectators on the banks of the Lymington River would be forgiven for thinking it was the early 1900s as ladies dressed in elegant long navy and white dresses joined gentlemen in reefers and caps and crews in white overalls prepared their classic wooden boats for sea.
The boats were being given their final polish before the start of the XOD Lymington Division’s celebration of the Class Centenary.
A fleet of 31 of the beautiful 21-foot keelboats, first raced in Southampton Water in June 1911, mustered on the start line in the Solent.
Lymington’s resident fleet was joined by a dozen or so from the Yarmouth Division and members of the Itchenor and Parkstone divisions also attended.
Despite a stiff easterly breeze, crews were determined to show off their period costumes and resisted putting on their oilskins.
“We had an excellent afternoon on the water,” said winner Ado Jardine.
“We were a bit damp by the end but the organisers certainly ordered the right weather!”
The ‘Best Dressed Crew’ award went to the crew of X 119 Lonestar.
Danebury Vineyards, a Hampshire vineyard that sponsored the Edwardian Race Day reception.
The Lymington Edwardian Race is one of a series of events taking place to mark the XOD Class Centenary.
Celebrations will continue during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week when the XODs will run their own three-day Centenary regatta within their usual racing programme, also sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management, from 9th - 11th August. The XOD Class is the largest class to start at Cowes, with a record-breaking 100 boats expected on the start line in this year.
Photo: Hamo Thornycroft
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Happily there is now a much more pragmatic line taken, with the safety rules for Basic Racing used as the benchmark. This simply involves a fly-off throttle, a kill switch for each member of crew and buoyancy for the boat. The personal requirements for a racing lifejacket, helmet, mini-flares, compress and whistle are the same across the spectrum, but are easily sourced and not expensive. This has opened up the prospect of racing to many otherwise obsolete boats. 
These owners always seem to live in a world of unshakeable contentment to which the rest of us can only aspire. It’s a mindset that comes from total enjoyment of a boat and the knowledge that getting to the destination is of secondary importance.
