MDL Hamble Winter Series - Race 4 Report

sponsored by Marina Developments Ltd., the UK's largest marina operator

Race 4 - Sunday, 31st October 1999

The boisterous winds that have been predominant in the series so far continued this Sunday. However, they were less than last week's and so there was racing for all classes. This week's Race Day sponsors were X-Yachts UK from Hamble Point Marina. The wind was mainly South Westerly starting at about 18 knots and building slowly during the racing. There were some shifts in & around the occasional shower clouds. With low water at 09.15 it meant that there was a strong Easterly flowing tide during the morning and the lack of water restricted the course setting options for the black fleet.

IRC 1 were sent on a long beat to MDL before running back to Bowring. IRC 2 starting 10 minutes later used West Ryde Middle as their first mark before coming back to Bowring. Both fleets then used the same marks for the rest of the course before finishing at Kelvin Hughes. The fleets were well mixed by the time they had completed the run to Bowring. All the starters in IRC 1 finished the race but what appears to be exaggerated this week was the wide spread of finishing times. Peter Morton's Mills 50 "Mandrake" completed the 19 miles course in 2 hrs 15 mins whilst the last boat home in that class (who shall be nameless) took 3 hrs 20 mins. Peter's lead over the others was sufficient for him to win the class. Second boat on handicap in IRC 1 was Nigel Harley's Reflex 38 "Walk on By" being helmed this week by Jeremy Robinson. In IRC 2 the early series leaders "The Big Cheese" & "Barking Mad" were both adjudged to be OCS and this left the way clear for Paul Churchill in "Splashdown Shakermaker" (Ker 31) to take line honours but come 2nd to John Pollard's "6 X" (X-362 Sport) on handicap.

IRC 3 was again won by Russell Hodgson with the X-332 "X-Celerator" but there were several interesting points elsewhere in the class. The two GK33's "Veto" & "Smidgen" improved to 3rd & 4th this week. Can they challenge "X-Celerator" in the second half of the series? Steve Nichols' new SJ 320 "The Edge" was joined this week by Andrew Webster's SJ 320 "Quencher". "The Edge" had a considerable edge until the bottom mark, East Bramble, when they trawled the spinnaker for several minutes. This allowed Andrew to overtake and hold a lead of 17 seconds at the finish. The only reported accident of the day happened in this fleet. John Hays, crewing aboard Ian Niven's X-332 "Iduna", fell on the foredeck and sustained a broken nose. In the other Black fleet classes there was another win for "Longbow" in the Sigma 38s. David Aisher, "Yeoman XXVIII" retired at the start after an incident with John Rainger's "Light". The Sigma 33 fleet was won by Tom Hayhoe & Natalie Jobling's "Mithril" with John Bartle, "Sloop John B" second. Peter Smith's Hawich 1/2 tonner "Scorpion" recorded their first win of the series in IRC 4.

The Mumm 30 fleet are revelling in the two race format. This week Ed Collins, the new World champion, returned to the Solent from New York to helm his old boat, now named "Finns McCoul II" and owned by Cornishman John Nesbit. They came a creditable third. "We are in the middle of a steep learning curve" was John's comment today. First race this week was won by Robin Fielder sailing "Warp Factor VI" but overall best on this Sunday was David McLeman sailing "Offbeat" with a 1st & a 2nd.

The White Fleet classes on the north shore all sailed the same course, which was a mixture of laid buoys and racing marks. The combination of marks available meant that the last leg was a short fetch rather than a true beat. The Sportsboat class is becoming a good mix of various designs. This week it was Paul Hays sailing the J-80 "Jackflash" who won ahead of the two Projection 762's "Projectionist" (Jo Wright) & "Gun Runner" (John Evans). In the Cork 1720 class Mark Rushall sailing "Proctor Winning Masts" had a second win ahead of Donal O'Halloran in "True North". Only three Melges 24s finished the course and Martin Wedge, "O.V.L." was best on the day.

The Hunter 707 class now numbers 38 boats but despite the high quality it is Stephen Butcher & Martin Jones on "Cacciatore" who recorded their third straight win. They had a winning margin of 65 seconds which can be considered significant in this class. Nick Roberts, "Three Little Pigs", and Ian May, "Charlie Fish" had a good tussle for 2nd & 3rd places. A good tussle also took place in IRC 5. Ray Nash, sailing his 1/4 tonner "Odd Job" was leading at the last mark but carrying full sail on the fetch home allowed Bob Gregory's Scampi "Flicka", with a smaller headsail, to over take him by a few seconds at the line.

More Information:
Race 4 - Top Three Results
Hamble River Sailing Club