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Hamble River SC Solent Spars Wednesday Evening B Series Race 8

Published 01:00 on 5 Sep 2013

Whimpers rather than Bangs

Hamble River SC Solent Spars B Series Wednesday 4th September 2013

The sunshine and pleasant breeze drew out nearly 30 boats for the final race of the Hamble River SC Solent Spars B Series and indeed the last race of the Wednesday night series for the year. With podium positions in several classes still in hot contention and everything to play for ,competitors were hoping for an action packed evening under PRO Malcolm Donald with the 10 to 12 knot easterly. The PRO sensibly opted for a windward leeward course for all competitors of three laps between Coronation and a leeward laid mark close to Bald Head with short legs to enabling shortening in the event that the wind died as the evening drew in and thus it proved with the course being shortened after two laps.

All classes behaved themselves and got away on clean starts. The identical course and short legs gave rise to considerable social intercourse between all classes heightened by the failing breeze and increasingly frequent loss of steerage. With the tide coming in the fleet opted for short tacking up the north shore and then either gybe setting round the windward mark out into the deeper water or bear away setting going into immediate gybes. The fading pressure caused considerably congestion at the leeward mark with boats coming in on port as those coming back on the beat ran into the tidal shelter of the north shore in starboard and the famous Flying Fish (Kathy and Rupert Smalley) nearly became a boat of historical interest on her last run into the mark trying to drift between other class 2 and class 1 boats!

Once the breeze closed down the tidal gate at the windward mark separated the winners for those behind and number of boats with overall positions in the bag or other wise not in contention opted for the quicker route back to the Club house under engine. In the XOD fleet Lark (Nick Brebner) took the lead along with the series with Katheleen (MOS Fitzgerald) in 2nd and Swallow ( Simon Russell) in 3rd but the evening results failed to shake Mischief ( Wilson , Wilson & Neale) and Magic Dragon (David Oddie) from taking 2nd and 3rd in the series. In class 3 Needlework (Peter & Ann Smith) took a convincing lead over Cockleshell (Jonty Sherwill) with Fritha (Bob Allen) in 3rd place but Cockleshell retained overall in the series in front of Needlework with Forethought of Gosport (Mike James) holding 3rd in the series. Class 2 saw another appearance in 1st for Ian Southworth in his quarter tonner Whiskers with Polly (Meakins & Cudmore) in 2nd and Imptish ( Barney Smith ) in 3rd but Mist (Andrea Undraa & Ross Elliston) didn’t need to turn up to retain their series lead along with Sunbow 11 ( Andrew Quickie) who took 2nd in the series from the two Impalas Polly & Impish who tied in a show of solidarity for 3rd place.

The final excitement of the evening was provided by class 1 where Wee Bear (Chudziak, Horner & Malas) managed to pull past the tidal gate in time to just take the series win although the evening honours went to Midnight Cowboy (Steph Merry) with Wight Hare popping in at 3rd. Hot Rats (Robbie & Lis Robinson) and Light (Rob Denning et al),having failed to get past Wee Bear , remained until the bitter end to content for the 2nd place of the series with Hot Rats just pipping Light who took 3rd overall. The 2013 Prize Giving ceremony will take place on the 16th of November at the club and we hope you will all be able to make it. Also thanks to our race officers Kathy Smalley, Ian Sumner, Jamie Wilkinson and Malcolm Donald, and to the kitchen and bar team that allowed us to enjoy a great atmosphere at the club after racing.

No surprises for the last race of the series that it was dark by the time the fleet came in BUT for those missing their racing fix for the rest of the year the famous Garmin Hamble Winter Series, now in its 32nd year, kicks off the weekend of 5th & 6th October with the early bird discount available for entries up to 20th September 2013. The series incorporates the Hamble Big Boat Championships and Doyle Sails One Design Championships so there is something to suit every boat. Look forward to seeing you out there and otherwise, next year when the clocks spring forward, the Hamble River Wednesday night series WILL BE BACK.

Report Lis Robinson