Southampton Water Sailing Association Evening Series Overall

Southampton Water Sailing Association Evening Series Race 5 © Chris Waddington

Success for Glass Onion and Auriole

Maintaining its reputation for friendly competition the Southampton Water Sailing Association’s keelboat evening series recently concluded with an enviable record of all 10 scheduled races completed and no competitor protests lodged. Typified by simple sailing instructions, benign summer breezes and keen but friendly competition the interclub series attracts a wide range of crews. This season 14 boats from 5 clubs took part with teenagers, retirees, families and students all competing on equal terms.

Initially Matt Girling of Fawley SC dominated class 1 winning the first 4 races in his quarter tonner Zipper. However, despite a hesitant start the green and yellow hulled mini-tonners Glass Onion and Calypso, both from Southampton SC raised their game to eventually finish 1st and 2nd respectively. Third in class 1 were the co-owners Alex Bell and Paul Bush from Warsash SC in their Beneteau 305.

In class 2 Graham Harrison in his Trapper 300 Auriole was resurgent, taking first place overall and repeating his success of 2008. Often sailing single handed, Ricky Yardley in a Dufour 1800 sometimes surpassed the fully crewed boats, eventually winning the last 2 races and finishing 2nd overall. The Valentine family of Southampton SC in their Achilles 900 Tranquility took the third podium position.

SWSA races are open to competitors from the 17 member clubs or individual members of the RYA. For more information, please see www.swsa.org.uk

Overall Results: