(Warsash, United Kingdom)- The Warsash Sailing Club is about to
undertake its annual rite of spring- two events that run from mid-March
to the end of April. The first is the Helly Hansen Spring Series that
starts March 18th and runs every Sunday until April 29th. During the
mid-series break, the Warsash SC hosts the Crewsaver Spring Championship
that runs over two weekends from April 21-22 to April 28-29. It is a
hugely popular event for J/sailors to get themselves tuned-up for the
major summertime events on the Solent and for the RORC Offshore events
that run all summer.The larger J’s are sailing on the Black Group/ Championship course; that includes one-design classes of J/88s and J/109s and a large IRC contingent of J/teams sailing J/111s, J/112E, J/122, J/92, and J/97s.
In the J/88 class, there are four very competitive teams aiming to get a good start on the season. Those teams include David & Kirsty Apthorp’s J-DREAM, Tim Tolcher’s RAGING BULL, Dirk van Beek’s SABRIEL JR, and Gavin Howe’s TIGRIS.
The half-dozen J/109s will be contending with top crews like Simon Perry’s JIRAFFE, Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN, and Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN’.
Five
J/crews that have won events, one way or another, on the Solent, will
fill the IRC 1 Class. So, no secrets amongst this bunch of mercenaries
the know the vagaries of the capricious Solent waters and winds quite
well. The three J/111s are Paul Griffiths’ JAGERBOMB, Chris Jones’
JOURNEYMAKER II, and Simon Bamford’s KESTREL. Joining them are Chaz
Ivill’s J/112E DAVANTI TYRES and Chris Daniel’s J/122 JUNO. All
familiar boats, all famously fast! Should be an interesting class to
watch.Similarly, in IRC 2 Class are the 30 footers. Past multi-Spring Series winner, David Greenhalgh’s J/92 J’RONIMO will be battling with two J/97s for class honors- Helen Hofmann’s JASLAN and the Hunt family (Rachel, David, Robert) on JUMBLESAIL 2.
The smaller J’s race on the White Group/ Championship course; including J/70s and J/80s. The 70s have a nice turnout with ten boats. Amongst the leaderboard should be Simon Cavey’s JUST4PLAY, Doug Struth’s DSP, Paul Ward’s new EAT SLEEP J REPEAT, David Mcleman’s OFFBEAT and Jon Powell’s PEGGY. The J/80s may end up match racing for their class win between Terry O’Neill’s AQUA-J and Mike Lewis’ JESTER. For more Helly Hansen Spring Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
|
