(Hamble, England)- "Windy, wet and lumpy" was how one competitor
described Sunday’s racing in the third weekend of the Garmin Hamble
Winter Series. It was a breezy day indeed that saw a base wind of 23
knots and gusts of up to 30 that greeted the fleet as they made their
way to the start on Sunday morning. A gusty breeze, combined with a
steep Solent chop and intermittent heavy rain squalls kept competitors
on their toes – and, occasionally, their boats on their sides in tricky
conditions.Ian Brown from One Sails, the day sponsor, was on hand back in the HRSC clubhouse to present day prizes to the exhausted crews as they enjoyed beer for £2.50 a pint and hot food. In many classes the challenging conditions shook up the overall results.
In the IRC 0 Winter Series class, the all J/111 class continues to see the team of David & Kirsty Apthorp on J-DREAM leading by virtue of their 1-1-1-2-1-1 record this past weekend. Richard Barnes's BIELA-MUNKENBECK is very close behind having scored an equally impressive 2-2-2-1-2-2 to hold onto second place. Lying third is the British Army team led by William Naylor aboard BRITISH SOLDIER. These standings for the Winter Series scoring are virtually identical for the Big Boats J/111 One-Design Series scoring.
In IRC 2, the new J/88 JUNGLE DRUM sailed by Paul Heys with 4-4-5-1 finishes has quickly ascended the finish ladder to now lie in second place..
In IRC 3, Nick Munday’s J/97 INDULJENCE again beat David Greenhalgh’s J/92 J’RONIMO with their 1-3 tally. J'RONIMO sits in third just two points back from second place.
David McGough’s JUST SO continues to lead the J/109 one-design class with a 2-1-1-1 record. Owain Franks' JYNNAN TONNYX is just hanging on to second place with their 4-3-2-2 tally, just in front of Paul Griffith’s JAGERBOMB that is counting a 1-4-4-3 record overall.
Next weekend hosts the final weekend of the Doyle Sails Hamble One Design Championships, as well as the fourth Garmin Hamble Winter Series race day.
Congratulations to all winners and competitors for some masterful displays of big-breeze sailing in what proved to be some challenging sailing conditions. Thanks to all the volunteers who braved the unpleasant conditions to man the committee boats and mark laying RIBs and to run the galley back in the club– the event couldn’t go ahead without them! Thanks for contribution from Ben Meakins. Sailing photo credits- Malcolm Donald/ GHWS Ross Elliston/ HBBC Trevor Pountain For more Garmin Hamble Winter Series sailing information
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