Hamble Winter Series Concludes on Windy Solent

(Hamble, Southhampton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series was completed this past weekend, thanks to the amazing volunteers at Hamble River Sailing Club. The series proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks of sailing. Here’s what’s happened for the series in each division- J/111 and IRC handicap.

Robert Hillman’s EXUBERANT was the Race Committee vessel for Race Week 6 of the Hamble Winter Series, sponsored by Key Yachting. Indeed, exuberant was how everyone was feeling, with the prospect of two races for the second week running. You could feel the energy as the Race Team and competitors headed for 4S- Royal Southern buoy.

The forecast was for 8-12 knots WNW to W and that was pretty much what happened. The PRO Peter Bateson and his trusted sidekick, Kathryn Clark, decided on one very short windward/leeward race to get the crews warmed up – and to put another race score in the bag – followed by a “proper” round the cans race to finish off. The W/L was just over 3 miles for IRC 2.

The combined start for classes IRC 1 and IRC 2 saw the first general recall of the series, with around a third of the 20 boats over the line. With a Z-flag preparatory signal, they got away fairly cleanly on the second attempt. Alain Waha’s J/99 FURTHER WEST led the finishers home in IRC 2. Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN was second over the line.

In the second race, Mike & Susie Yates’s J/109 JAGO took second place, while Waha’s J/99 FURTHER WEST ended up third place.

Back in HRSC Clubhouse Key Yachting presented the prizes. Ian Handley summed up the day. “Overall, a fantastic day’s racing in 11-17 knots and a bit of sun. Our second prize, a bottle of Salcombe Gin, felt like a win and will be much appreciated by Charles’s Mum when we get home.”

Winter Series J/111 Class
Chris Jones & Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II won seven races with 9 pts net total to take the class title! Second was Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB counting three 1sts and five 2nds for 13 pts net. In third was the Jolene Syndicate’s JOLENE with 22 pts net.

Winter Series IRC 2 Division
After twelve races, winning was Mike & Susie Yates’s J/109 JAGO in first with 10 pts net. Then, faltering a bit at the tail-end of the series, Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN ended up taking the bronze medal.

Thanks for the contributions from Trevor Pountain

Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth
http://wwww.pwpictures.com

For more Hamble Winter Series sailing information
https://www.hamblewinterseries.com/