The DREAM, JIKA-JIKA, OI! Continue Winning
(Hamble, England)- In a horror scene right out of "The Zombies" (or, perhaps somewhat like Cowes Week), a pile of classes converged at a leeward mark in Sunday’s fourth round of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series, causing complete chaos (and some bodies flying overboard). While admirable rule observance ensured that every boat rounded safely, it was the bolder skippers who gained most, particularly in the highly competitive J/109 and J/80 classes.
On this overcast but mild morning courses for the IRC and larger one-design classes were set across the Brambles Bank to suit the 10-15 knot easterly breeze that backed steadily during the day. With low water coinciding with the first starts the tide was by then running eastwards, but assisted by cautionary announcements on the VHF from Race Director Jamie Wilkinson all seven fleets got away without a general recall. The increasing tide also contributed to the bottleneck at the turning marks, where yachts in multiple classes arrived together with spinnakers set. It provided some nail-biting spectator sport. In fact, a slightly late spinnaker drop aboard ME JULIE in the J/109s saw a crew member over the side, but quickly recovered.
It was an exciting day for the eighteen J/109s competing in the series, and different players continue to show up each week to challenge the leaders. Nevertheless, the powerful J-DREAM team (David & Kirsty Apthorp) have seriously dialed up the pressure even more on their colleagues and now have a 1-3-1-2-1-1-1-1 score for 6 points. Lying second is OFFBEAT (David McLeman) with a 9-2-4-3-4-5-3-2 tally for 18 points. Third four points back is OUTRAJEOUS (Richard & Valerie Griffith) with scores of 5-5-3-4-5-2-5-3 for 22 points.
Over in the IRC 3 Class, the J/97 continues to sail well with Mike and Jamie Holmes J/97 JIKA-JIKA strengthening their lead further with a 4-1-1-3-1-1-4-1 record for 8 points, they now have a 6 point cushion in this competitive 17 boat class.
John Cooper on OI! still dominating the J/80 class in the Winter Series with a 1-1-1-3-2-2-2-2-1-3 for 14 points! Nine points further down the ladder is second overall is Patrick Liardet on AQUA-J with a 2-4-3-5-4-3-1-1-3-2 for 23 points. Still lying third is Gordon Craigen's SWALLOW with a 6-3-4-4-6-1-3-3-4-1 for 26 points.
With the mid-series break next weekend, the series resumes on November 14th with one race per day for the Black Group, while the sportsboats in the White Group continue their regular three race schedule. Report contributed by Jontey Sherwill For more Garmin Hamble Winter Series results and sailing information.