(Warsash, England)- The Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series continued
for the second Sunday of racing on 24th March 2013. With a steady 15
knots mainly from the east, the wind chill factor dropped the apparent
temperature down well below freezing but the conditions did not deter
the enthusiasm and energy of competitors, some of whom had battled with
the unseasonable snow to reach the Solent. All classes got away on time
to complete the day’s schedule. The wind was at the lower end of that
forecast and gusts to 28 knots did not materialize.
The
Black Group team set up station near Flying Fish buoy in a constant NNE
force 4-5 - ideal sailing conditions except for the temperature. The
west-going tide combined with the NE wind helped keep boats back from
the line, allowing all starts to get away cleanly. No one wanted to have
the delay of a general recall. Courses of 13/15 miles were set
basically of a windward/leeward pattern, using permanent and laid marks
and with a finish close to Calshot buoy. The boats with slick sail
handling did well. It was not easy for crew members to move nimbly
wearing so many layers of clothing and with numb fingers.
Competitiveness was to the fore, resulting in some hairy moments. Four
sailors went overboard: three, all sensibly wearing lifejackets, were
caught out when a lifeline snapped. For both incidents, neighboring
boats quickly stopped racing and went to their assistance. Everyone was
soon back on board, with no adverse effects and the Protest Committee is
being asked to award redress to those boats that stood by.
The
J-Sprit designs sailing in IRC3 continue to rule the roost. The J/97
JIGGERY POKERY helmed by Paul Heys took a 3rd this past weekend to
maintain overall leadership by one point. Nick & Adam Munday's J/97
INDULJENCE was 5th and lies 3rd in fleet. David Greenhalgh & John
Taylor's J/92 J'RONIMO is sitting in 5th after taking a 6th. In the J/109 class, only six seconds separated OFFBEAT (David McLeman) from JAHMALI (Mike and Sarah Willis). Notching up another first means OFFBEAT is on its way to establishing a healthy lead on the fleet. However, just behind them it's an absolute horse-race for the top five spots. Currently, JAHMALI has jumped into second position, followed by Owain Franks & Jean Lockett's JYNNAN TONNYX in third, David McGough's JUST SO in fourth and Ian Mackinnon's TIGH SOLIUS II in fifth.
Peter
Knight’s White Group for sportboats was closer inshore where the wind
varied between 15 and 19 knots with gusts to the low 20s. The
windward/leeward course was set between hamblewinterseries.com and Meon
buoys. The breeze was slightly shifty and by the last race the course
was moved 15 degrees left. The J/70s and J/80s all enjoyed three races
around 40 minutes each. The fleets so far have been well behaved, with
only one boat starting early. In the first race BETTY (J/80 – Jon
Powell) jumped the gun right by the committee boat but promptly
returned, sailed well to recover and take second place followed by two
wins in the subsequent races. BETTY has a five point lead over ROCK
& ROLL (Gillian Ross) after five races, followed by Mark
Baskerville's MISTRAL in third. Others fared not so well, taking a wide
or very wide route round the leeward gate with spinnakers getting
wrapped round the forestay or not coming down as quickly as the crews
would have liked.In the smaller new J/70 class North Sails (Ruairidh Scott) was competing for the first time and took two firsts and one second places to move into 3rd position overall. But, Ian Atkins in Boats.com heads on series points counting three 1sts and two 2nds to date.
The Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series takes a break over the Easter holiday and returns on Sunday 7th April, by which time spring must surely be in the air. In the meantime, the annual RORC Easter Regatta is being held from 29th to 31st March. Sailing photo credits- Iain McLuckie For more Warsash Spring Series sailing information
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