J/109s, J/105s and J/80s Rocking the Solent
(Hamble, So'ton, England- Oct 3-4)- October 3rd and 4th was the opening weekend of the annual Hamble River Sailing Club's Winter Series, sponsored by Garmin. On Saturday a strong but steady 250 degree wind produced exciting conditions for the first day of the Hamble Big Boat Series. With a few broken halyards, some crew injuries, and a collision between two yachts, the IRC fleet dwindled from seven starters to three by the third race. Demanding conditions perhaps, but spinnakers were flown throughout as the gusts topped 30 knots.
In the fifteen boat J/109 One-Design class, it appears that David and Kirsty Apthorps J-DREAM continues their winning ways in the J/109 class, leading the pack with a 1-1-1 over Luca Rubinellis's ARIA that has a 2-3-3. In third are Richard and Valerie Griffith sailing OUTRAJEOUS with a 5-2-7 over the two weekends.
The six boat J/105 One-Design class has tight competition with Paul Griffiths in FAY-J just hanging onto the lead by the hair on his chinny-chin-chin by one point (with 2-1-2 finishes) over Simon Curwen in the well-campaigned, hard-charging VOADOR with a 1-2-3 on the board. Lying third for now is Chris Jones JOURNEYMAKER 5 with a 3-4-4.
The seven boat J/80 One-Design class has two perennial class leaders pulling no punches and going at it hammer and tong over six races to date. John Cooper racing O!! with a 2-2-1-1-2-4 record is holding off Mr. BOATS.COM EUROPE Managing Director, Ian Atkins, racing none other than the appropriately named BOATS.COM (who knew?) with a 4-1-4-3-3-2 tally. Not far off the pace in third is Thor Askeland aboard ELLE SAPELLE also showing strong improvement over the two weekends with a 5-4-5-4-1-1 score card.
Full results click here. Photos by Paul Wyeth.