Hamble River Wednesday Night Series - Series B Race 6
by Jane Windsor 26 Aug 2016 12:13 BST
24 August 2016
Hamble River's race team last night was met with lighter than forecast winds pirouetting from 210 to 320 degrees and wind speeds from 0.2 to 9kts. Sadly, the higher speeds did not last, and with only 2.5kts at the time for the first warning, race officer Jane Windsor had no option but to display AP.
As the wind crept back to around 4kts, the AP was removed and the start sequence got underway.
With time lost, all classes were given the same short course. Everyone got away cleanly, and crossed Southampton Water to Mark in the light airs. Re-crossing the channel and heading for Coronation the wind continued to fade. With a building tide and streaks of lightening crossing the sky, the decision was made to shorten all classes.
Steve Green's Pepper (XOD) was first to finish, followed by the Class 2 Impala, Imptish (Smith, Tullett & Hance), executing a well-choreographed roll-tack on the line. Both had benefitted from staying high and not getting caught by the tide.
Second on the water in Class 2 was Ross Elliston's Mist (Nicholson 33) which took Class 2 on corrected time.
Rob Denning's Light (Sigma 38) topped the podium in Class 1, after John Noe's La Nev IV tangled with a lobster pot. Jonty Sherwill's Cockleshell led Class 3.
X90 Calypso (Tim Harding) finished second in their class, their best position this Series, and were all smiles as they crossed the line.
As the wind died and darkness beckoned, competitors offered the XODs a tow and everyone retired to the Clubhouse and bar.
Positions are becoming tight in the overall Series B standings with Light leading La Nef by a mere half point. In Class 2, Uproar (Scott, Akhurst, Palmer) leads Imptish by 4 points. In Class 3, two points separate Cockleshell from Bob Allen's Folkboat, Fritha.
Keith Hughes' Nanette X84 leads the XOD fleet by 8 points, with Satu X21 (Andy Hamlett) second overall and Fearless X180 (David Gregory) third.