Raymarine Warsash Spring Series - Week 2

Racing abandoned at Warsash Spring Series week 2 © Eddie Mays

What a difference seven days make! After the light breeze and spring-like conditions for the first race of the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series, the second Sunday 18th March arrived with forecasts of gale force winds, when a dramatically low pressure system affected most of the country.

As the committee boat crews ventured forth from Warsash Sailing Club, the strong north-westerly was constantly showing gusts over 30 knots. This was clearly no kind of weather for the sportsboats in White Group whose racing was cancelled for the day. The main Black Group committee boat managed to anchor near to RYA Yachtmaster buoy off Hill Head but the outer distance boat was not able to do so to provide a viable start line. As conditions were likely to worsen once the tide changed, and in gusts of over 40 knots, Black Group was also stood down.

The race committee has rearranged start times on following weeks to fit in extra races and get the series back on schedule. Spring Series Chairman Peter Bateson from Warsash Sailing Club said: “We had hoped it would be possible to set a windward/leeward course using the lee off Lepe, but as the conditions worsened our committee boats and supporting RIBs were experiencing real difficulties. We were sorry to disappoint the forty or so crews who turned out despite the weather but have rescheduled our start sequences on 25th March and 1st April to make sure they don’t miss out.”

From the conversations back in marinas and clubhouses, however, it seemed that many competitors were only too pleased to get the signal to turn round, head for home and an early Mothering Sunday lunch.

Amendment No 2 to Sailing Instructions is available on the event website at www.warsashsc.org.uk and the Club looks forward to welcoming everyone back on the water next Sunday 25th March.