The adaptable course setting was appreciated by the boats. "Good course setting to cope with the expected wind shifts, which followed the forecast." said Lis Robinson on Hot Rats. Indeed the "Rats" were leading up the first beat in IRC 3, until they ran out of breeze and had to follow two J109s, JAGO and Jenie round the mark. They maintained their position on the water, if not on handicap, for the rest of the race.
Jenie, Rosie Berry, led for most of the race but as Mike Yates explained "We managed to sneak ahead of Jenie at the penultimate mark, they gybed off and we held on to the finish." J'ronimo, J92, David Greenhalgh managed to place third, pushing With Alacrity and Hot Rats into fourth and fifth.
IRC 4 was once again the biggest fleet on the water with fifteen starters. Banter, despite their skipper feeling cold, had a red hot performance. They beat the so far untouchable Protis, Quarter ton, Team Hamble, by two minutes corrected. Ian Handley put it down to the swelling of their brains trust to include former J70 Corinthian World Champion, Andy Shorrocks and Katie Shorrocks to go with the two James' and Handleys. Nobody likes a name dropper Ian!
Their plan was simple, given the foul tide; they would head mid right to the shallowest water by the bank and wait for the shift so they could lee bow to the first mark. For a while Quokka 9, Protis and Duff Lite out to left seemed to be sailing away from them, but like Jybe Talkin' in the class before they suddenly ran of wind. This left Banter leading at the first mark.
As the wind built Quokka 9, Half Ton, James Crew got through them, but could not save their time on Banter, or on the now charging Protis who grabbed second. So pleased were they on Banter that Rachel broke out the flapjacks on the way home! I'd hate to be on board when they don't win.
In IRC 2, Wavetrain, Gavin Howe, kept things interesting by beating the two class leading boats, Jump 2 it, Kevin Taylor and Triarchy, Oliver Reynolds. If Wave train does that again this Sunday things could be very tight at the top. Squeaky transom time!
Back at the Hamble River Sailing Club, Jackie Peck from Pharmaceutical Consulting Ltd presented some excellent prizes. These consisted of backpacks with very welcome "goodies" hidden inside. Some competitors again benefitted from the Club's Day Prize policy that you have to be in to win. 7th placed Voodoo, IRC 4, was delighted to pick up one of the fabulous prizes.
Next Sunday sees the final race of the series. Paul Wyeth, sick of taking pictures that are grey on grey, is ever the optimist: "Here's hoping for some sunshine for the last one next weekend!"
Next week's Day Sponsor is Boatcare, part of the Boatfolk Marina group. They will be giving a free racing scrub to the class winners - yes you read it correctly - Free! I can sense Ian Handley's phone in action already. Those who don't come first shouldn't worry; there will also be wine in which to drown your sorrows.
Results at www.hamblewinterseries.com
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