Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Weekend 8
by Jonty Sherwill 30 Nov 2009 11:00 GMT
29 November 2009
Driving rain and vicious squalls marked the final day of the 2009 Garmin Hamble Winter Series on Sunday 29th November, and with around twenty five percent of retirees it was clearly a demanding day.
A rapidly changing low pressure system had made for a tough early morning call, and with both Black and White Fleets cleared for racing in what initially seemed acceptable conditions, it soon became clear that the sportsboats could not race safely in the increasing gusts. With the J/80 and SBR classes already started, White Fleet PRO Jenny Wilson abandoned the Laser SB3 start and sent all boats safely back to Hamble.
For Black Fleet the committee laid a start line near Fastnet Insurance buoy and with two separate courses set for the seven IRC and one-design classes. With a wind direction of 200 degrees and a west going tide the DAKS race buoy was chosen as the first windward mark for all classes, with IRC0, 1, and 2 finishing at DAKS after a series of runs and beats, while the J109, J105, IRC3 and IRC4 classes had a slightly shorter course finishing at Air Canada.
Visibility was changing constantly as each rain squall hit the fleet, and but for some spectacular broaches and spinnaker failures the day was a testament to the good seamanship displayed throughout this competitive series. Even if some were hating the conditions, there were others who called up the race committee with thanks for a great day out as they crossed the finish line. One regular campaigner in the Garmin Hamble Winter Series, Neville Hodkin, was unfortunate to lose his rig aboard 'Extra Djinn' just after finishing the race.
With seven races completed in the Black Fleet series, one race result could be discarded, and except for some minor place changes due to retirements on this dramatic final day all but one of the leading boats maintained their winning positions. The exception was in IRC3 where John Rainger's Sigma 38 'Light' finished 2nd to secure the overall win ahead of 'Persephone of London' and 'With Alacrity'.
The end of series prize giving is next weekend, where the overall class winners will receive their awards, and the Garmin Yacht of the Year and Sportsboat of the Year will be announced. An added treat will be courtesy of the Sigma 38 class which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, and they will be presenting a bottle of bubbly to each of the class winners.
For full results of the 2009 Garmin Hamble Winter Series, plus Hamble Big Boat Series and Autumn Championships, go to www.garminhamblewinterseries.co.uk
Overall Results:
Black Fleet:
IRC 0
1st 'Tangent Minus 1' Paul and Julia Aisher, 13pts
2nd 'Paragon' Michael Blair, 18pts
3rd 'Biela' Richard Barnes, 19pts
IRC 1
1st 'Puma Logic' Sailing Logic Ltd., 20pts
2nd 'Jaguar Logic' Sailing Logic Ltd., 22pts
3rd 'Premier Flair' Jim Macgregor, 28pts
IRC 2
1st 'Elaine' Mike Bridges, 9pts
2nd 'Starspray' Bateson Family, 22pts
3rd 'Malice' Mike Moxley, 29pts
IRC 3
1st 'Light' John Rainger, 14pts
2nd 'Persephone of London' Nigel Goodhew, 17pts
3rd 'With Alacrity' Chris and Vanessa Choules, 25pts
IRC 4
1st 'Menace' Derek & James Morland and Tim Rees, 10pts
2nd 'Catch 22' David Rider, 27pts
3rd 'Crakajax' Ursula Bagnall & Richard Hollis, 30pts
J/105
1st 'Fay-J' Paul Griffiths, 11pts
2nd 'Voador' Simon Curwen, 14pts
3rd 'Journeymaker 5' Chris Jones, 15pts
J/109
1st 'J Dream' David & Kirsty Apthorp, 6pts
2nd 'Aria' Luca Rubinelli, 15pts
3rd 'Outrajeous' Richard & Valerie Griffith, 17pts
White Fleet:
Laser SB3
1st 'Robina' Jo Lloyd and Sue Antonelli, 69pts
2nd 'PamBere' Gillett, Jones, & Ross, 74pts
3rd 'Trunk Monkey' Joe Burnie, 90pts
J/80
1st 'Oil!’ John Cooper, 19pts
2nd 'Boats.Com' Ian Atkins, 31pts
3rd 'Elle Sappelle' Thor Askeland, 44pts
SBR Sportsboats
1st ‘Touchdown' Oliver Hemming, Anthony Vollmer, & Lucien Farrell, 19pts
2nd 'X-Static' Tim Grisgby, 31pts
3rd 'Finn M'Coul' Tom Clay, 57pts