Hamble Winter Series IV Report

(Hamble, England)- We might already be at the end of October, but competitors were treated to some cracking sailing in unseasonably warm weather as the Garmin Hamble Winter Series reached its halfway point and the clocks went back this weekend.

After a bruising race last week this weekend's forecast provided some relief, predicting a gusty 10-18 knots of breeze from just south of Southwest. That's exactly what crews found out in the busy central Solent, where gusts and shifts, as well as the presence of nearly 100 boats and a stonking tide meant that big gains were there for the taking by those who kept their eyes peeled and out of their boats.

From a start line near Royal Southern buoy, the race team set a series of windward-leeward and triangle courses. Two races were sailed by all classes.

Garmin Hamble Winter Series
IRC 0 saw a tussle between Martin Dent's J/111 J-ELVIS and Quokka 8, who scored a 1st and 2nd each. Louise Makin's J/111 JOURNEYMAKER II sailed a consistent day to take two 3rds. J-ELVIS is winning the class by four points after four weekends of racing.  They’re followed by Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II in 3rd with Chris Body’s J/111 ICARUS in 4th.

Within IRC 2, the J/88s are having great one-design racing.  At this stage, Paul Ward’s J/88 EAT SLEEP J REPEAT is leading the class, followed by Stew Hawthorn’s JI-FI in 2nd and Ivan Trotman’s JOJO in 3rd.

IRC 3 saw some good results for the J/97s in the class, as Charles Ivill's ETB TYRES- JUST LIKE THAT took two firsts, with fellow J/97 BLACKJACK II taking two seconds.  Both boats make up the top of the podium as the series enters its second half in a fortnight.

Adrian Wheal's JOLLY JACK TAR won the J/109s' first race, with Owain Franks' JYNNAN TONNYX taking the second race by just over a minute. As a result, JOLLY JACK TAR continues to lead the series with Roger Phillips’ DESIGNSTAR 2 in 2nd, JYNNAN TONNYX in 3rd, Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN in 4th and Chris Copeland’s JUKE BOX in 5th.

MDL Hamble Big Boat Series
This weekend also hosted the final MDL Hamble Big Boats Championships weekend. Featuring racing for J/111s, both days delivered some close racing for the assembled fleet that attracted some of the most impressive new boats and top crews to the Solent.

In IRC 0 Class, Cornel Riklin's J/111 JITTERBUG was second, and also won the J/111 class. Taking 2nd in the J/111 class was Martin Dent’s J/111 JELVIS, 3rd is David & Kirsty Apthorp’s J-DREAM, 4th is Chris Body’s ICARUS and 5th is Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II.

Skippers and crews applauded their thanks to the race team and an army of over 70 volunteers who make the racing happen at a packed prize giving in the HRSC clubhouse. See you in a fortnight!  Thanks for the report by Ben Meakins

Sailing photo credits- Hamo Thornycroft - yacht-photos.co.uk (Garmin Hamble Winter Series) and Trevor Pountain (MDL Big Boat Champs).   For more Garmin Hamble Winter Series sailing information