(Hamble, England)- With wind from the North East, and a fair bit of it, the Hamble River Sailing Club PRO went to East Knoll (4H) to run the final day of the 2019 HYS Hamble Winter Series. IRC Classes 1 & 2 were dispatched upwind to William (4L) with the smaller boats, IRC Classes 3 & 4, to the slightly closer hamblewinterseries.com (4J). There followed a series of up and down legs between the windward marks and buoys in a southwesterly direction before everybody ended with a beat to William to finish.
A couple teams had worked out that they would win their class without venturing into the cold December air. Simon Perry's J/109 JIRAFFE had such comfortable lead in IRC 2 Class that they stayed ashore to prepare for the prize giving! There was a three-way fight for the final podium places in IRC 2, with Gavin Howe's J/88 TIGRIS taking home the silver.
In IRC 1 Class, Chaz Ivill's J/112E DAVANTI TYRES posted a third place in the final race to hang on for the silver. It was not what the crew had hoped for, going for an unprecedented "three-peat" for the IRC 1 Class honors.
Finally, in the J/88 Class, Howe's TIGRIS won quite handily, followed by Dirk van Beek's SABRIEL JR in second and Richard Cooper's JONGLEUR in third place.
Back in the HRSC clubhouse it was a double prize day. Force 4, who were unable to give away their Christmas presents last week, due to the abandonment, turned up again with the day prizes. Athena Rossi, who opens the Port Hamble shop early during the series, was there to give them away.
Lee Pollock from Hamble Yacht Services then proceeded to present the overall series prizes. As well as the HRSC glassware, Lee gave the winners a HYS goody bag with vouchers for lifts and Champagne.
Finally, Chaz Ivill, presented the Paul Heys Trophy to Simon Perry's team on the J/109 JIRAFFE. This trophy will now be presented annually to the best J/Boat Team in memory of Paul Heys- J/Boats U.K. late founder. Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth Pictures For more HYS Hamble Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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