Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Hamble Winter Series 2024 Race Week 2, sponsored by Key Yachting

by Trevor Pountain 16 Oct 2024 07:50 PDT 12-13 October 2024

Race Week 2 of the Hamble Winter Series comprises two days of racing for the Hamble IRC Autumn Championship, sponsored by Key Yachting. Early weather forecasts showed that once again we may have weekend of two halves. As it turned out it was a weekend of one half.

Sunday's weather had looked light from a couple of days out and series photographer, Paul Wyeth, got in touch on Friday to ask if we wanted pictures in the rain with wind on Saturday or pictures in sunshine with no wind on Sunday. Clearly, he would have preferred Sunday, but when Saturday was not too wet and the sun crept through the clouds, he went out and got some dramatic shots.

The Race Team gathered in HRSC at 0745 on Sunday morning and studied all of the available forecasts several times. There were little pockets of wind on the edges of the Solent but nothing in the middle. PRO Peter Bateson took the difficult decision to cancel racing for the day. His WhatsApp message read "The forecast has not improved and with very light breeze matched with a 180-degree change in direction, there seems no point in going out in hope." At 10.26 Paul Wyeth messaged from the island "Good call today...like a mirror!" Of course, not everyone was happy, especially those who had paid to go in the water at HYS.

On Saturday things went to plan with three races completed. The CV, WetWheels, set up near Royal Southern Buoy in 7-8 knots of breeze, with a course axis of 185, for Race 1 a windward /leeward with course lengths - IRC 1, 5.0 miles: IRC 2, 4.6 miles and IRC 3, 4.2 miles. In IRC 1, Ian and Imogen Watkins Far East 28, Mako claimed first place with the First 40 of Richard Catchpole, second and the new to him, Open 7.50, Cool Runnings of Ross Bowdler in third. In the 16 strong IRC 2, some of the usual protagonists were battling it out at the front of the fleet. Arcus, A35, Paul Newell took first from Jenie, J109, Rosie Berry in second with Kevin Taylor's J99 Jump 2 it in third. IRC 3 saw Sam Cox in the Corby 25, Liquidity Risk 11 win from Rod Macgregor's, Mustang 30, Dark Horse, with the Quarter ton Theseus of Jim Prower in third.

Peter Bateson gave the fleet another 2-lap windward/leeward for Race 2 and around the cans special for Race 3. In IRC 1, with the wind slowly building to 10 -15 kts Ross Bowdler's Open 7.50 began to stretch its legs down wind. Ross had campaigned his J80 in the winter series for a number of years but went down in size to 24'7" and ended with the top rating in IRC 1." We just wanted to plane down wind" explained Ross. "We know she has a punchy rating (1.099), and we have a lot to learn upwind, but with a bunch of dinghy sailors, we're having fun" Cool Runnings took the next two races to win the weekend. Mako was second with a 1, 2, 3, scoreline and Minnie the Minx was third. In IRC 2, Arcus won Race 2 and her third in Race 3 secured top spot. Elaine Again, JPK 1010, Peter Mockeridge recovered from a fourth in Race 1 to post a 2 and 1 to come second. Jumping Jellyfish, J109, David Richards just pipped Jump 2 it by one point for third. In IRC 3, the evergreen Whooper, Giles 39C, Giovanni Belgrano, secured two wins to lift them above Liquidity Risk 2 and Dark Horse.

With no racing on Sunday the Key Yachting prize-giving will be deferred until next Sunday. The One Designs will be out again next weekend as well as the IRC fleet and the day sponsor will be Force 4.

Find out more at www.hamblewinterseries.com

Related Articles

Abigail returning to Marblehead to Halifax Race
A 1956 wood 39' ketch designed by John Alden and built by Seth Persson Returning to this year's Marblehead to Halifax race is Jesse Terry's Abigail, a 1956 wood 39' ketch designed by John Alden and built by Seth Persson right after Finisterre, which won the Newport to Bermuda race three times. Posted today at 8:21 pm
Melges24 NA SailingSeries launches with Midwinters
The stage is set for three fun days of racing on Tampa Bay The 2025 Melges 24 North American Sailing Series (NASS) kicks off in spectacular style at the Midwinter Championship, held in conjunction with the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series - St. Petersburg. Posted today at 6:12 pm
29er Eurocup Series at RCN Valencia Preview
86 boats set to start racing on Thursday The Eurocup Series 29er 2025, as part of the 10th Comunitat Valenciana Olympic Week, is starting a new journey at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia. Posted today at 5:15 pm
Newport Bermuda Race Live Seminars
Biggest takeaways and lessons learned from 2024 incidents Kicking off our 2026 Race Prep Seminar Series, a panel will reflect on the key incidents from the 2024 Bermuda Race, with insights into what went right, what went wrong, and how lessons learned can improve safety, preparation, and performance for 2026. Posted today at 4:46 pm
2025 Rolex Fastnet Race - winners return
For this special edition, the RORC has reintroduced its once premier event, the Admiral's Cup For 2025, the Royal Ocean Racing Club celebrates both its own centenary and that of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the race upon which it was founded. Posted today at 3:42 pm
The stage is set for 2025 29er Asian Championship
Taking place from 12th to 16th February Incorporated into Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2025 and co-organised by the Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China, Royal Hong Kong YC and the International 29 Class, 2025 29er Asian Championship will take place from 12th to 16th February. Posted today at 2:26 pm
IRC Rating open for 2025
The IRC rating system will remain largely unchanged for 2025. Applications are open for 2025 IRC Rating and the IRC Rating Authority (RORC Rating Office and UNCL, Pôle Course du YCF) have already issued certificates to over 650 northern hemisphere boats for the new season. Posted today at 12:57 pm
Globe 580 Transat makes waves with record run
McIntyre Mini Globe set to make history! Third running of the 2025 Globe 580 Transat: Thrills, Spills, and Plenty of High-Seas Shenanigans in record time! Woop Woop! Posted today at 9:13 am
18ft Skiffs build up to the 'Big One'
Less than one month to go before the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship With less than one month to go before the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship is contested on Sydney Harbour, from March 8-16, next Sunday's Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship race is critical to the build-up for all teams from the League's fl Posted today at 6:34 am
Women's WMRT announces 2025 season
Over 150 women match racing sailors are expected to compete this year The Women's World Match Racing Tour has announced its 2025 schedule of six events in four countries featuring events in the USA, France, Sweden and Bermuda. Posted today at 5:48 am
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTERMaritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER