Hamble Winter Series 2026 - Week 3
by Trevor Pountain 19 Oct 15:13 BST
4 October - 28 November 2026
Protis - Hamble Winter Series week 3 © Mike James
For the first time in October the Weather Gods decided that Sunday would be a good day to go sailing. Perhaps it was the use of "Sea Angel" as a Committee Vessel that influenced their decision this week.
With the wind in the north (010 degrees), Peter Bateson, took the aforementioned "Angel" down to just west of 4W, Ancasta. There would be a kind of sausage - triangle course with the triangle going round 47, Contessa 32 Class. IRC 2 would complete 4.9 nm and IRC 3, 4.1 nm. The wind averaged 16-17 knots with gusts to 21 knots. The club's new "lovely visible pink" race marks made their debut in the sausage, and their excellent visibility was much appreciated by the competitors.
Those who worked out the starboard lift halfway up the course made quick progress to the windward mark and there was a clear split between those who thought that the final Leg from 47, Contessa 32, to the finish was white sail and those thought (wrongly) it was kiteable.
In IRC 2, With Alacrity, Sigma 38, Chris and Vanessa Choules, finished fourth on the water but saved their time to take the win. Hot Rats, First 35, Robbie and Lis Robison came second. Vernon Bradley brought his J99, Blackjack, home in a corrected time of 0.54.56 as did Rosie Berry, in Jenie, now a J88.
In IRC 3, battle was resumed between Protis, Team Hamble, Quarter ton and Banter, Mustang 30 Mk 2, Ian Handley and Tim James. Protis won on the water by 61 seconds, but this increased to 70 seconds on corrected time. Dark Horse, Rob Macgregor's Mustang took third spot. The first of the Impala 28's, Polly, Ben Meakins was close behind in fourth.
With the wind holding up well and possibly increasing a little, the PRO set longer courses of 8.4 nm and 7.4 nm respectively for Class 2 and Class 3. After the windward leg, 010-020 degrees, there would be a zigzag downwind followed by a long beat to the finish at 4V, Hamble Yacht Services. In IRC 2, the big kite paid of for Hot Rats on the way to 4U, Goodall Roofing and they took the lead which they retained for line honours at the end.
There was some confusion as to which side of HYS the finish line lay, but this was quickly cleared up by Lis Robinson's dulcet tones on the radio.
Despite line honours, Hot Rats was giving away some 49 points and three feet on the water to With Alacrity and this proved to be too much in the conditions with WA taking a second Bullet of the day. All was not plain sailing on the big Sigma in this second race. "The traveller exploded" explained Vanessa, "with ball bearings all over the cockpit."
Somehow a sail was deployed to hold it down! "At the same time the Spi Halyard got pinched into the Genoa Halyard sheave." A nice, controlled broach followed. Blackjack came in third, managing to keep clear of Jenie's corrected time.
In IRC 3, Protis led Banter home by some 46 seconds which gave them a second first place for the day. Darkhorse was once again third. There was some excitement on the way back from 4Z, South Ryde Middle, when three Sunsail boats and Banter arrived at 4W, Ancasta, at the same time. One of the Sunsail skippers who had failed to round the mark at the first attempt had a second go and nearly rammed Banter in the process.
Back in the HRSC Clubhouse Greene King provided packs of beer for the podium places which always seems to go down well with boat crews. And just to top everything off those fabulous Hamble Winter Series Mugs were given out, in case people didn't want to drink from the cans!
The One Sails Next Generation award went to Eleanor Yonge who was crewing on With Alacrity.
One Sails will be providing the Race Day prizes for Race Week 4.
Full results: www.hamblewinterseries.com