50th Anniversary Hamble Warming Pan Preview
by Barney Smith 19 Jan 2012 05:48 GMT
10-11 March 2012
Hamble Warming Pans © Jonty Sherwill
Over 70 dinghies are expected to be racing on the River Hamble at the 50th Anniversary Warming Pan event on 10th and 11th March 2012 racing from Hamble River Sailing Club.
Racing will start and finish on the Hamble River Sailing Club line and is expected to attract the top sailors in each of the Merlin Rocket, Firefly, National 12 & Foxer classes. Visitors to the village will be able to watch the competing dinghies at many vantage points along the river banks.
HRSC is keen to hear from those involved in running or competing at any previous Warming Pans since the initial event in 1962. Past competitors and organisers will be made very welcome at the Club during the weekend.
On Saturday night the club will rock to a 60’s themed night with music, food and video footage of Warming Pans past and present.
To commemorate the 50th running of the event, and to highlight the close ties the Warming Pan enjoys with the village of Hamble, up to 50 local companies, residents and sailing enthusiasts are being invited to sponsor the event for £50 each. Money raised will be spent to create commemorative shirts for the event to be presented to the competitors and race management teams, and also to support local youth sailing initatives. Sponsors will be invited to watch Sunday's racing from the HRSC terrace which enjoys one of the best views anywhere on the river.
HRSC has a highly experienced race management team and runs other major sailing events including the annual Garmin Hamble Winter Series, considered to be the best UK yacht sailing available in the winter.
Competitor details
There will be two races each day for the Firefly, Merlin and National 12 fleets and four races a day for the Foxer fleet with a break for lunch. Local Hamble youngsters are also expected to sail in their own Pico fleet.
An added bonus for competitors is that entry fees have been kept at the same level as last year, just £25 for double-handed crews and £12.50 for single-handers. Enjoyment levels are likely to be upped by some of the cheapest beer in Hamble being available from the HRSC bar!
Accommodation hints and other useful information are available on the Hamble River Sailing Club website.
For more information, contact HRSC on or 02380 452070
Warming Pan history
The first Hamble Warming Pan regatta was held in 1962 when there were just two competing classes, Merlin Rockets and National 12 dinghies. Over the years the invite list expanded until eight classes were invited to attend in 2002. Racing is held in the confines of the River Hamble and is run by Hamble River Sailing Club, based near the centre of Hamble village. Warming Pan competitors come from all parts of the country but have always included a strong local contingent from the riverside villages of Hamble and Warsash.