Garmin Hamble Winter Series sets sail

by Jonty Sherwill

October 3rd and 4th was the opening weekend of the annual Hamble River Sailing Club's Winter Series, sponsored by Garmin.

On Saturday a strong but steady 250 degree wind produced exciting conditions for the first day of the Hamble Big Boat Series. With a few broken halyards, some crew injuries, and a collision between two yachts, the IRC fleet dwindled from seven starters to three by the third race. Demanding conditions perhaps, but spinnakers were flown throughout as the gusts topped 30 knots.       

In the IRC class Neil Martin's J-133 'Jammy Dodger' scored three firsts from Ian Matthews' J-122 'Jinja'. The other J-133, Bill Blain's 'Batfish III' and Charles Ivill's 'John B' were forced to retire from Race 2 after a heavy collision. The 45ft Level Racing Class, now consisting exclusively of Farr 45's, saw Shaun & Emily Frohlich's 'Exabyte 4' as the most consistent, scoring 1,2,2 out of the six boats entered.

On Sunday morning a more moderate and shifty westerly breeze provided a perfect opener for the main Garmin series, with the midday high water providing an ideal scenario for the race committee. Black Group racing was set along the Brambles Bank with windward marks at the Air Canada and Flying Fish buoys, while the White Group set up closer to the mainland shore.

With more breeze than forecast the windward leeward courses set for the Black Fleet races produced tight racing, with a gain for those on the left in Race Two as the breeze gradually swung from 265 to 230 degrees.  This popular two races per day programme will reduce to one race after the mid series break based on competitor feedback, while for the sportsboats three races per day continues throughout the series.

With regatta entries generally down during 2009 it was no surprise to see thinner entries in some classes, but competition at the front of each class is clearly up to standard, with some mid-placed boats from last year's series making their way to the front. This was noticeable in the IRC1 Class with the brace of Beneteau 40.7s, 'Tradition Philosophie IV' and 'Encore'. The newly revonated Quarter Tonner 'Menace' of Messrs. Morland and Rees scored 2 & 1 in IRC4, the Apthorp's 'J-Dream' won both races in the J-109 class, and Ann Jackson's 'Excuse me Gents' also impressed in the SB3 class winning the first two races. 

The 10/11th October also sees the Autumn Championships for Laser SB3, J-80, and J109, with the conclusion of the Hamble Big Boat Series the following weekend.

Full details of the 2009 Garmin Hamble Winter Series, Hamble Big Boat Series and Autumn Championships are available at www.garminhamblewinterseries.co.uk

Garmin Hamble Winter Series – Day 1 Results:

White Fleet Race Winners:

Laser SB3
Race 1 & 2, ‘Excuse Me Gents’ Ann Jackson
Race 3, ‘Chill Pill’ Nick Elder & Scott Graham
J/80
Race 1, ‘Hoolingkazan’ Steve Sault & Mark Baskerville
Race 2, 'Boats.Com' Ian Atkins
Race 3, 'Oil!’ John Cooper
SBR Sportsboats
Race 1, ‘X-Static' Tom Grigsby
Races 2 and 3, 'Coriace 2' 3D Nexus Ltd 
 
Black Fleet Race Winners:

IRC 0
Races 1and 2, 'Biela’ Richard Barnes
IRC 1
Race 1, ''Tradition Philosophie IV' Nicolas Gaumont-Prat
Race 2 ‘ Great Scot IV' Eurof Phillips and Barbara Mackam
IRC 2
Race 1 ‘Malice’ Mike Moxley
Race 2, ‘Starspray’ Bateson Family
IRC 3
Race 1 ‘Manaru’ Tony Dickin
Race 2, 'With Alacrity’ Chris & Vanessa Charles
IRC 4
Race 1 ‘Prospero of Hamble’ Allan Fraser
Race 2, 'Menace' Derek & James Morland and Tim Rees
J/105
Race 1, 'Voador', Simon Curwen
Race 2, 'Fay-J', Paul Griffiths
J/109
Races 1 & 2, 'J Dream' David & Kirsty Athorp