Warsash Spring Series is now in its 29th year and the 2012 event gets underway from Sunday 18th March. Again the Spring Series and Spring Championship will follow the popular tried and tested formula but the race management team at Warsash Sailing Club has also taken on board feedback from competitors with a view to improving the event still further.

• New for the 2012 Spring Series will be a J-Sprit class for J/105, J/100, J/97, J/95 and J/92 designs, racing together under IRC ratings. Spring Series Chairman Peter Bateson commented: “We feel this addition will benefit those boats with very similar sailing characteristics and competitors can enjoy courses designed for them, rather than sharing with conventionally rigged boats.”

• The Spring Championship weekends, with racing on Saturday and Sunday, are being held on 21st/22nd and 28th/29th April. Classes for 2012 can include the whole of IRC1 and IRC2, rather than being limited to the light displacement “big boats” of previous years. Racing will also be arranged for triallists aiming at selection for the Brewin Dolphin Commodore’s Cup.

• A text messaging system is being tried for 2012 which will improve pre-race communications with competitors.

Sports boats (up to 8.5m LOA and DLR 160 or less) are welcome to enter under IRC and if at least eight are entered by 9th March, then a separate sports boat class can be provided.

Lower-rated IRC4 boats are especially welcome in the Series and will again have a 1000 start from their own line closer to the mainland shore off Hill Head.

The Spring Series will include four IRC classes plus J/109, Sigma 38, Laser SB3 and J/80 in addition to the new J-Sprit division. Spring Championship weekends will cater for IRC1 and IRC2 boats as well as Farr 45, J/109, Laser SB3, J/80 and Quarter Ton classes plus triallists for the Brewin Dolphin Commodore’s Cup.

The provisional Notice of Race is now published on www.warsashspringseries.org.uk and competitors will be pleased to know that entry fees have been kept at their 2011 rates.