42nd Hamble Winter Series - Week 3
by Trevor Pountain 26 Oct 2023 13:33 BST
14-15 October 2023
"It was always going to be a difficult day!"
This was the view of RO Kathy Smalley, who was standing in for PRO Peter Bateson this week when, the decision was taken for a one hour postponement for week 3 of the Hamble Winter Series. Despite the arrows on Windycator V2 coming from all directions in the Solent and showing between 0 and 3 knots, the two Race Teams went out to wait for the forecast breeze.
Several wind models predicted something from the south or west to arrive between 1300 and 1400. Kathy took Wetwheels out to 4V, Hamble Yacht Services and waited. At least Hot Rats could enjoy a leisurely Calvados and coffee again.
Ian Bullock, RO for the Hamble One Design Championships, also took his team out on Artemis. Waiting has become Ian's specialist subject this year. On Saturday the team had gone out and waited all day. They did have a go at getting the J111s going, but had to abandon when the Js could not make the first mark. "Little puffs, but nothing consistent yet" observed Jackie Peck. They gave it one more try before abandoning the day and returning home in the early afternoon.
The patience of the Race Teams and indeed those competitors who ventured out eventually paid off. As forecast something began to happen just after 1300. The wind built to 5 knots from the south. The general view was that it would go south westerly and courses were prepared accordingly. Despite the wind flicking through 50 degrees both fleets went into sequence.
The Race Team's WhatsApp group suddenly lit up at 1336:
"Starts under Zulu no OCS" typed Ann Arscott on Wetwheels.
"ODC. J111, J70, RS21 and SB20" reported Wendy Laynton from Artemis at 1339.
In the end everybody had one race, albeit in rather fluky conditions.
In the J111 Class, Journeymaker 11, Chris Jones and Louise Makin took the overall championship despite a fourth place on Sunday. Jitterbug, Kornel Riklin was second and Jagerbomb, Paul Griffiths was third. In the J70 Class, DSP, Doug Struth had a first place to cement his first for the series. Brutus 11, Charles Thompson was second and Little J, Max Clapp third.
For the RS21s this was the fifth weekend of their series, so they were especially happy to get a race in. Dark and Stormy, Liam Williams took the chocolates and the Harken woolly hat. Second was Stormfly, Charles Balmain and third Kiss, Martin Wadhams. The SB20s were also doing just one weekend and 20, Mark Gillet, won the only race, followed by Xcellent, John Pollard and Absolute Carnage, Matt Williams.
In IRC 2, Gavin Howe, brought the Everitt designed Wavetrain home in first place. He was congratulated by Julian Everitt himself on FB, who pointed out that it was 35 years since Wavetrain appeared at the Southampton Boat Show in 1988. Gavin will be hoping for some slightly longer races as he prepares to take Tigris across the Atlantic. Jump 2 it, J99, Kevin Taylor, was second and Triarchy, Arcona 380, Oliver Reynolds was third.
IRC 3 saw three J-Boats at the top. J'ronimo, J92, David Greenhalgh led everyone home to take first place. Clearly any problems with a dirty bottom are now behind him. JAGO, J109, Mike and Susie Yates was second and Mojo risin, J109, Rob Cotterill came third.
Protis, Quarter ton, Team Hamble, led IRC 4 home, despite their normal helm, Ian Southworth having been spotted walking up Hamble Lane eating a Pasty whilst the race was ongoing! Quokka 9, Half ton, James Crew, was second with Banter, Mustang 30 Mk2 home in third.
Commodore Serena Alexander, presented the prizes and promised a special prize for the scariest looking boat in next week's Halloween race. Early front runners, even without costumes, must be Hot Rats, With Alacrity and Protis.
www.hamblewinterseries.com