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Garmin Hamble Winter Series Race Report Weekend 6

Published 00:00 on 22 Nov 2013

Report by Ben Meakins. Photos by Paul Wyeth

A
light forecast presented a challenge to the race committee in the
Garmin Hamble Winter Series this week. With the fickle and shifty wind
in the north, the committee boats stalked the fleet with the ‘shortened
course’ flags, but the wind held, and despite the building tide the
fleets finished in time to repair to the clubhouse for beer and chips.

The
race officer set courses that included a spinnaker reach as well as
beats and runs, and with windward marks to port and starboard foredeck
crews and trimmers were kept on their toes.

In IRC0, James Gair’s
Localletterbox Zero II won her class, despite returning at the start as
flag X-Ray was hoisted. In IRC 1, it was Philip Farrands’ Old Mother
Gun that won the race, ahead of Paul Jones’ Passion.

The light winds also suited Jungle Drum in IRC2, and with
her bright pink spinnaker she led her class around the race course. In
class 3, Induljence topped the fleet, but there are three boats just
one point apart, so there is all to play for over the next two races.
In class 4, quarter-toner Menace followed her 2nd last week with a
first place, ahead of Impala 28 Trudi in 2nd.

In the One Design
classes, David McGough’s Just So won the J/109S ahead of Owain Franks’
Jynnan Tonnyx. David and Kirsty Apthorp’s J/Dream was first J/111, while
Chris and Vanessa Choules on With Alacrity won the Sigma 38s ahead of
Rob Denning’s Light.

Force 4 Chandlery, which opens at 0730 on race days, was Day
Sponsor, and Athena Rossi from Port Hamble was on hand to present
prizes. The club also presented prizes to the local Foxer fleet, who
held their winter championships over the same weekend. They fitted in an
impressive 12 race series, which was won by Craig Burlton, with Geoff
Carveth 2nd and Ian Southworth 3rd.

Two race days remain in the
Garmin Hamble Winter Series – we’ve had a range of challenging
conditions so far, and it remains to be seen what the weather gods hold
in store for the next two weekends. Whatever they throw at us, the
racing is set to be close and exciting, with single-point differences in
many fleets sure to keep the results uncertain until the final race is
run.