Hamble Winter Series 2024 Race Week 3, sponsored by Force 4
by Trevor Pountain 22 Oct 15:36 UTC
19-20 October 2024
"This is Hamble Race Control, the race is not live, we have exceeded the wind limit!"
Well, that's what the PRO would have said if the CV, WetWheels, had gone out on Sunday morning for the third week of the Hamble Winter Series.
Fortunately, for the RO's, Peer Bateson and Ian Bullock, the approach of Storm Ashley had been so well forecast and anticipated that the decision to cancel Sunday's racing was taken by around 4 pm on Saturday. Some, including Gavin Howe, had already reported they were not going to race. Gordon Mclean, Marks 1, for the one design fleet was already relishing a dry copy of the Sunday Times.
So that left Saturday for the Hamble One Design Championships and RO Ian Bullock went out to get "at least four" races in with Sunday's impending doom in mind. This was the second weekend of the championship so the scores would be added to the previous weekend for the overall results. In the J111 class, Journeymaker II, Louise Makin and Chris Jones, continued their form from Race 4 and banged in four bullets to take the class with 9 points. Jagerbomb, Paul Griffiths, couldn't find the form that gave them 3 firsts in the first weekend. They had to settle for four seconds and a 13-point second place. Jolene, Jolene Racing Syndicate, beat Frequent Flyer, Ella Wollman into third.
In the SB20 Class Phil Tilley in Tan Gwyllt also couldn't quite find his previous form, but four thirds, two of which he discarded, left him with a comfortable score of 11. Mark Gillet in Twenty, came second with Betty, Simon Berry in third. With the Slam Series over, a much-depleted J70 Class went out to play. Jooped, John Cooper, had things all his own way at the top of the fleet followed by Joskin, Harry Edwards and XVSripes Isabelle Hung.
By the time Ian Bullock was in the HRSC Clubhouse, Jolene reported that they had "taken their battens out and moused their halyards for the winter!"
No racing on Sunday meant that Force 4 were unable to present their day prizes, but don't worry we will squeeze them in later.
Now, I don't want to speak too soon, but Race Week 4 on Sunday already looks to be a big improvement in terms of weather.
Find out more at www.hamblewinterseries.com