Perfect for Raymarine Warsash Spring Series No2

by Warsash media on 21 Mar 2006 .


























The race management team of the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series have a long held belief that sailing decisions should await the dawning of race day and not be made in advance.

For Week 2 of the series, they were proved right once again. Although the forecast threatened a Force 5 to 7 and possibly even 8, which would have caused cancellations to some classes, on the day the committee boat ventured into the Solent under a cloudless sky, with a moderate, north-easterly breeze and perfect sailing conditions for all competitors.

Discipline at the Black Group start was good, despite the strong east going tide encouraging boats over the line. The sportsboats on White Group were however a little too enthusiastic, resulting in several general recalls and one start under the black flag rule.

The direct line on one Black Group leg took boats over the Bramble Bank, but only a couple went aground, most steering a conservative course. Competitors needed to stay focussed right up to the finish as hard won places were lost in the fluky wind shifts on the last beat, making the final decision on when to tack for the line an important one.

Several competitors continued their winning form from the opening race including Quokka (IRC3), Glide-X (IRC4) and Java (Bowspprit/J105). Rob Bottomley’s new First 47.7 Decosol was the winner of IRC1 helmed by John Danby with Werewolf second. As always, racing was close in the Hunter 707 fleet with Censored finding the all important 18 seconds in Race 1. Key Yachting chalked up a further two wins in the 1720s.

Word had obviously got around about the Mumm champagne awaiting weekly class winners at the WSC clubhouse. No one missed out on picking up their bottle courtesy of sponsors Raymarine. The Series continues on Sunday 26th March.

Raymarine Warsash Spring Series

Provisional Results Sunday 19 March (Week 2):

Black Fleet:
IRC1 Decosol First 47.7 Rob Bottomley
IRC2 Cool Runnings X-35 Juncker Visser/Jochem Thorkild
IRC3 Quokka Elan 37 Peter Rutter
IRC4 Glide-X X-332 Ian Dawson
IRC5 Hobby Horse Mustang Mike Fawcett
Bowsprit Java J-105 Paul & Marie-Claude Heys
J109 Jahmali Mike/Sarah Willis
Sigma 38 Festina Lente Meakins family

White Fleet:
Hunter 707 Race 1 Censored Williams, Gorman, Breslin & Simmonds
Race 2 The Ant Hill Mob Sanders, Hall, Hunt & Barber
Cork 1720 Race 1 Key Yachting Paul Hughes
Race2 Key Yachting Paul Hughes
Laser SB3 Race 1 Gul Mike Budd
Race 2 Loco Calum Smeaton
J-80 Race 1 Just Savage Liz Savage
Race 2 Just Savage Liz Savage

Sportsboat Race 1 Quarter Back Backman 21 Thrower, Duriam & Mitchell
Race 2 Quarter Back Backman 21 Thrower, Duriam & Mitchell

Event website: www.warsashsc.org.uk