Sea Ventures Super Series Test Event Round 4, Hamble
by Mark Angell 12 Dec 2023 07:09 PST
9 December 2023
Kestrel - Sea Ventures Super Series Test Event Round 4, Hamble © John Green
?Saturday saw the final round of the Sea Ventures Super Series, where points were tight for the overall leaderboard between three of the top Sun Fast 3300 teams: Kestrel, GameOn and Fastrak.
With a very lively WSW/Westerly wind and heavy rain forecast, starting and racing in Southampton Water (close to Hamble) wasn't favourable, so an early decision was taken on Friday to start teams on the Island Sailing Club line off Cowes.
With the forecast earlier in the week putting off many competitors - on Saturday it was down to the duo of Kestrel and Fastrak who would battle it out in a 'Match Race' to determine the Round 4 winner and points towards the overall series title.
Race 1 got under way at 11:00 with the two boats heading westward from the ISC line beating into a muscular 25-30kts to 'The Boss' [Just West of Lepe Spit] before hoisting asymmetric sails and a dead run leg to West Ryde Middle - PRO Rich Palmer and his team working hard to get a square leg with the easing ebb tide. Once back into the central/Eastern Solent both teams showing good crew work albeit shorthanded [three onboard] In the conditions.
By the third mark Hamble Yacht Services both teams were blast reaching in the condition too tight for a spinnaker and a challenging call to get Code sails set. A short kite leg from Northeast Ryde Middle to the bottom Mark of 'Browndown' saw Fastrak increase their established lead.
As both boats turned back west and the tide starting to flood, the previous wind over tide conditions began to ease, but at times the Solent proved an uncomfortable racetrack, Kestrel had lost ground not finding enough tidal relief close to the Island shore against Fastrak and the race was run. Fastrak crossed the ISC Line off Cowes 11 minutes 42 seconds ahead of Kestrel, no corrected time calculations needed with both boats racing level rated.
With a crew injury onboard Kestrel sustained in Race 1 they decided to retire from Race 2 and in turn handing the Race 2 win and the Round 4 title to James Harayda onboard Fastrak.
Having missed Round 2 - Lymington, of the Super Series - Fastrak was carrying a heavy 18-point deficit and so even winning the last Round - Hamble, she finished up in 2nd with 29 points. The Sea Ventures Super Series Overall Winner title was awarded to Simon Bamford onboard Kestrel with 22.5 point having competed in all but the last race.
On winning the Series Simon Bamford remarked: "The Super Series was a welcome extension to the season for Kestrel. We enjoyed the opportunity to race three-up instead of the usual double-handed, so introducing new people to the boat. The racing was competitive and fun. The use of the MarkSetBot at starts and finishes allowed prompt and accurate line setting from the Race Management team which was very much appreciated in the chilly weather!"
Special mention should go to the Double Handed team onboard GameOn who were the only team to compete doublehanded for the whole series and finished in a very respectable 3rd place with 31 points.
On completion of the Series, Charles Darbyshire, Managing Director of FourthCape the organisers of the Super Series commented: "With the 2023 Sea Ventures Super Series Test Event now complete, our thoughts and planning will turn to the 2024 season and see how we can best optimise this format. We have had a lot of great feedback from the sailors about all aspects of the test event and can now home in on what makes make the event special.
"We are super grateful for the commitment from our test event competitors, some of whom travelled many miles to join each round & who have been brilliant to work with, it's been a pleasure. We look forward to opening up the Super Series to a wider audience and not just the select few that were invited for the Test Event. - Watch this space for 2024 news!"
More information at: www.sea-ventures.co.uk/race-yachts-super-series
Overall Series Results:
| Pos | Boat name | Class | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Kestrel | SF3300 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2.5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | 22.5 |
| 2 | Fastrak | SF3300 | 1 | 1 | | | | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | DNF | 29 |
| 3 | GameOn | SF3300 | 2 | 5 | DNF | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | | | 31 |
| 4 | Insert Coin | JPK1030 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | 41 |
| 5 | Mzungu! | JPK1080 | 4 | 4 | | 2.5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | | 49.5 |
| 6 | Farrcical | Farr X2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | RET | 3 | | | | | | 53 |
| 7 | Hair Of The Dog | SF3200 | | | | | | DNF | 5 | | | | 76 |
| 8 | Black Betty | D30 OD | | | | | | 5 | | | | | 77 |