The DREAM, JIKA-JIKA, OI! Winning
(Hamble, England)- The third weekend of the 2010 Garmin Hamble Winter Series (24 October) produced more good racing. Sunday's steady northerly breeze produced double wins from the two J classes in the Garmin Black Group fleet, including the Apthorp’s J/109 J-DREAM and Mike and Jamie Holmes' JIKA-JIKA. Saturday's racing was marked by an unexpected squall when 12–15 knots of westerly breeze leapt to 40 knots at precisely 1300hrs. It was soon over but Race Director Jamie Wilkinson had immediately signaled an abandonment, and the two fleets returned for a restart of Race 3.
Sixteen J/109s sailed this weekend, making for tough competition. Was it a "dream come true", again? Sure was. The J-DREAM team (David & Kirsty Apthorp) dialed up the pressure again on their colleagues and now have a 1-3-1-2-1-1 score for 6 points. Lying second is OFFBEAT (David McLeman) with a 9-2-4-3-4-5 tally for 18 points. Third just one point back is OUTRAJEOUS (Richard & Valerie Griffith) with scores of 5-5-3-4-5-2 for 19 points. In the Big Boat Series IRC 0 Class, the J/122s and J/133s continue to sail in a challenging series. Ian Matthews' J/122 JINJA is sailing well, still lying in second place. Jackie and Robert Dobson's J/133 JERONIMO sailed a reasonable set of races on the third weekend, but dropping them into 6th place, but only 5 points from 3rd overall! The tale of the tape in this class goes race-by-race; especially since JINJA is counting a DNF in Race 9 in her scores.
In IRC 3 Class, the J/97s continue to sail well, with one leading the standings and the others falling off the pace a bit. Mike and Jamie Holmes J/97 JIKA-JIKA has now surged into the lead with a 4-1-1-3-1-1 record for 7 points in this competitive 17 boat class. Mike Flood's J/97 INDULJENCE, Ed Holton's J/110 SHADES OF BLUE, Bill Blain's J/97 BATFISH IV and Richard Watney's J/97 JENGA VI have fallen back or for family reasons have not been able to sail the full series.
Amongst the J/80s it's John Cooper on OI! still dominating the Winter Series with a 1-1-1-3-2-2-2-2 for 11 points! Now just seven points back is Patrick Liardet on AQUA-J with a 2-4-3-5-4-3-1-1 for 18 points. Now lying third is Gordon Craigen's SWALLOW with a 6-3-4-4-6-1-3-3 for 24 points.
The Bugle's Oliver Weeks presented the overall trophies and prizes, and the whole fleet were invited to enjoy live music at The Bugle in Hamble that evening. The Spinlock day prizes were presented by James Hall and Simon Crowther. Next Sunday’s racing (31 Oct.) sees the fourth round of the main Garmin Hamble Winter Series, with day prizes presented by Harken UK. There will also be more cakes on the menu in response to popular demand! Me thinks carbo-loading with sausage patsy's and Guinness were standard issue crew meals. Have times changed? Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth Pictures For more Garmin Hamble Winter Series results and sailing information.