Hamble Winter Series 2024 Race Week 1, sponsored by One Sails
by Trevor Pountain 9 Oct 14:55 UTC
5-6 October 2024
The 43rd running on the Hamble Winter Series started with two completely contrasting days of weather.
Saturday, day one of the Hamble One Design Championships, had glorious sunshine and a steady breeze but, when Peter Bateson, PRO, announced "We have passed the wind test" on Sunday morning everything was grey and dank. So grey was it on Sunday, that a couple of J70 competitors said they had trouble spotting the black tetrahedron marks at the top of the course. I asked RO Ian Bullock "Didn't you put them directly upwind of the CV as usual?" Well, it seems he did. The J70s needn't worry as we will bring our big orange cubes out in two weeks' time, which can be spotted from Lymington. That will please the competitors, though, I can hear Gordon Mclean the mark laying team groaning already.
A healthy fleet of twenty J70s had entered for what was one their "Slam" events and nineteen made it to the start line. Alex Smallwood in RTYC2 had the best of day one taking two first places and a ninth to lead with 11 points. David McLeman in Offbeat was second on 12 points, with John Cooper, Jooped, in third with 14 points. In the SB20 class our regular visitor from South Wales Tan Gwyllt, sailed by Class Secretary Phil Tilley, had the measure of Dark 'n' Stormy, Luke Whyburd all day. Paul Griffiths in J111, Jagerbomb, had a perfect three bullets on Saturday, leaving them in what looked like an almost unassailable position. Journeymaker 11, Louise Makin ad Chris Jones was lying in second with Jolene, Jolene Racing Syndicate, in third.
On Sunday, the weather, referred too by Peter Bateson as "occasional drizzle", wasn't the only distraction on the Solent. It was "crowded territory" said Peter with "Royal Southampton Winter Series, Warsash SC Lasers, R Srn YC Cruiser Race, RYS Performance 40s and RTYC Arrow trophy" as well as the Hamble Winter Series event. Ian Bullock encouraged his race team to "go out and get our towel down early." So, by 10.00 am Rupert Wolloshin, in Marks 2, announced the CV Artemis was at N 50 49.224 W 001 16.895 (between Cutter and Fumesy to the rest of us) and Gordon McLean on Marks 1 confirmed 6 kts from 135 degrees.
Now, whether it was the change in weather or the crowded Solent, some of the nailed-on winners from day one faired less well on day two of the Hamble One Design Champs. In the J70s, Patrick Liardet in Cosmic, who was languishing on 31 points after day one, scored a 1-2-1 on Sunday to end with a winning 16 points. Patricks was the happiest face at the One Sails prize-giving. RTYC2 slipped to third and DSP, Doug Struth, discarded a last race 11th to secure second. In the J111s Jagerbomb's serene progress was halted when Journeymaker 11 scored three bullets on Sunday. They were also not helped by a DNC in the first race, though, they were able to discard this. In the end though both boats had an identical score and an identical number of 1st and 2nds, but Journeymaker11 had the last three 1st places to sneak home. Don't you just love count back. Jolene was third. There were no such shocks in the depleted SB20 class with Tan Gwyllt romping home with another three first places.
The IRC fleet managed to squeeze in their start line at Royal southern buoy and proceeded to race off the Hill Head and Lee on the Solent shoreline. Race one was windward/leeward course with two rounds in each. The final race was round the cans, 10 miles for IRC 2 and 8.5 miles for IRC 3 respectively. There was a good mix of beats, runs and reaches with frequent wind shifts and the tide on the turn giving plenty of tactical options. The last leg went downwind to finish at Darling Buoy.
Banter, Ian Handley and Tim James, won both races in IRC 3. It has to be said though that some of their biggest rivals have yet to appear. "However, to our surprise and of course disappointment" said Ian" there was no sign of Protis, Quokka or Polly at the start of race one." Well Ian, I saw "Southy" in the Co op and he says Team Hamble are currently not all in Hamble. "When's the next race?" he enquired quizzically.
Race one was rather short, but Banter had a decent start and held off Memory Maker, Don Forster, for most of the first beat and then hung on for the rest of the race to win on handicap. Dark Horse, Rob Macgregor came third. Race two was a Cowes Week type of race with wind speeds of 7/12 knots but with some big holes. "So, it was a snakes and ladders race with some tight reaches and decent beats and runs." Said Ian. Banter now helmed by a Banter Academy member - Chris James, won the start and kept a loose cover, whilst the team tried to bounce off the pressure and shifts. Memory Maker, the highest rated in Class 3 finally overhauled Banter and had a good run until they sailed past the next leeward mark. "A bit like an AC boundary error" quipped Ian. This allowed Dark Horse back in, and they showed great speed, but the tide was not their friend. Gavin Doyle's new (to him) Quarter Ton, Cartoon moved into third place.
IRC 3 had a very solid fourteen boats competing. The big question on everyone's lips was, will Hot Rats do better or worse whilst Lis Robinson recovers from her new hip? Well despite a crew member, John Smith I think he was called, in shorts and a T-shirt rushing around on the foredeck and Olly Love of Frank 3 fame calling the shots, Hot Rats posted a 4th place in Race 1. So, as they say, the Jury is out. JAGO, J109, Mike and Susie Yates, took Race 1 from With Alacrity, Sigma 38, Chris and Vanessa Choules. Mojo Risin, J109, Rob Cotterill was third. However, in Race 2, Mojo beat JAGO by nearly two minutes to take the win. Hot Rats improved to third. The Jury may now be reconsidering...
Back in the HRSC clubhouse, Nathan Steffenoni of One Sails presented the prizes. There was the usual grape juice, but One Sails always come up with things sailors always need. This year it was bags, foil protectors and sail ties. You can never have too many sail ties.
Next week is the Hamble IRC Autumn Championships. Key Yachting will be next week's sponsor and with thirty-six teams already entered it promises to be an exciting weekend.
Find out more at www.hamblewinterseries.com