Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 2

Hamble Winter Series 2024 Race Week 6, sponsored by Key Yachting

by Trevor Pountain 20 Nov 2024 11:20 PST 9-10 November 2024

Robert Hillman's Exuberant was the Committee Vessel for Race Week 6 of the Hamble Winter Series, sponsored by Key Yachting. Indeed, exuberant was how everyone was feeling, with the prospect of two races for the second week running. You could feel the energy as the Race Team and competitors headed for 4S, Royal Southern buoy.

The Forecast was for 8-12 knots WNW - W and that is pretty much what happened. PRO Peter Bateson and his trusted side kick, Kathryn Clark, decided on one very short windward/leeward race to get the crews warmed up - and to put another race score in the bag - followed by a "proper" round the cans race to finish off. The W/L was just over 3 miles for classes IRC1 &IRC 2; and just under 3 miles for IRC Class 3.

The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted the IRC 1 class being mentioned for the first time since the Hamble IRC Autumn Championship. And, just like London buses, two IRC 1 boats came along at the same time!

Ross Bowdler brought his Open 7.50, Cool Runnings, out and he was joined by the Far East 2 of Timon Robson, Sea Dragon. The two of them scampered around the course with Cool Runnings winning by 2 minutes 46 seconds on the water and by 1 minute 23 seconds corrected.

The combined start for classes IRC 1 and IRC 2 saw the first general recall of the series, with around a third of the 20 boats over the line. With a Z-flag preparatory signal, they got away fairly cleanly at the second attempt, apart from White Majic whose one length head start gave her an OCS score when she didn't return.

Further West, the J99 of Alain Waha, led the finishers home in IRC 2. Mojo Risin, J109, Rob Cotterill was the second over the line but had to give way on corrected time to With Alacrity, Sigma 38, Chris and Vanessa Choules.

In IRC3, Banter, with its helm back in good health, had Jeremy Robinson onboard calling the shifts, which allowed them to get to the first mark first in the first race. Try as they may, they couldn't hold off Team Hamble in Protis, who won by 44 seconds. Theseus, Quarter ton, Jim Prower was third.

In the second race, Cool Runnings did for Sea Dragon again, but by a larger margin. Ross Bowdler, remarked in the bar later, that when the big asymmetric was up, the foot of the sail skimmed the waves, and they couldn't see where they were going. You have been warned.

With Alacrity improved on their first race second, to win Race 2 by 41 seconds from JAGO, J109, Mike and Susie Yates. Further West came in just six seconds corrected behind JAGO having pipped them on the water.

The General Recall disease affected IRC 3 at the second start. The Z-flag held them back, just, as the class made a cracking start at the second attempt, with many of the boats within half a length behind the line at the gun.

Banter once again chased Protis around the Solent, but to no avail. The very consistent Dark Horse, Mustang 30, Rob Macgregor, took the third podium place.

Back in HRSC Clubhouse Key Yachting presented the prizes. Ian Handley summed up the day. "Overall, a fantastic day's racing in 11 - 17 knots and a bit of sun. Our second prize, a bottle of Salcombe Gin, felt like a win and will be much appreciated by Charles's Mum when we get home." Nothing wrong with getting some brownie points in!

Next week the sponsor will be Greene King.

Find out more at www.hamblewinterseries.com

Related Articles

One thing. One big, very fast boat
One thing that opened the door, another made us enquire some more - 50 knots! Yes. It was one thing that opened the door, as it were. One thing that piqued the curiosity enough to go, ‘I'll take a look at that!' One thing that when you're trying to crack in excess of 50 knots... Posted today at 9:00 pm
NYYC International Women's Championship update
The first group of invited skippers have been announced Elite-level international women's keelboat competition will return to Newport, R.I., in late summer of 2026 when the New York Yacht Club hosts the inaugural International Women's Championship. Posted today at 8:09 pm
Luna shines bright in 2025 Morgan Cup Race
This was a truly international fleet with the majority of the teams from the UK and France The start of the Morgan Cup Race was a spectacular sight with over 100 boats beating to windward into the Western Solent for the fourth race of the Cowes Offshore Racing Series and the 11th race of the 2025 RORC Season's Points Championship. Posted today at 6:19 pm
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 1
Kicking off with a nuclear single elim The opening day of the Freestyle Pro Tour (FPT) Paros kicked off exactly as forecasted - nuclear winds from morning till late afternoon, accompanied by nonstop freestyle action. Posted today at 3:25 pm
New Zero Weight 2-in-1 Shorts from Henri-Lloyd
When the weather's hot, there's nothing better to keep you cool on or off the water When the weather's hot, there's nothing better than Henri-Lloyd's Zero Weight 2-in-1 shorts to keep you cool on or off the water. Posted today at 1:30 pm
2025 Tiedemann Regatta
Experience shines alongside the brightwork at the Nw York Yacht Club A century ago, R Class yachts were the sports cars of the yachting world, sleek and low to the ground, nimble in the corners and quick around the course, and, above all, demanding to drive. Posted today at 1:44 am
2025 Marion to Bermuda Race - Trophy time
Recognizing the outstanding achievements of the sailors Thank you to everyone who made the 2025 Marion to Bermuda Race such a memorable success! We're thrilled to recognize the outstanding achievements of our sailors with this year's special awards, which were presented at last night's prize-giving and Gala. Posted today at 1:39 am
Foiling Week Malcesine 2025 concludes
Champions crowned and records set during the twelfth edition The twelfth edition of Foiling Week came to an end today in Malcesine with the awarding of the first BirdyFish World Championship title, showing the largest fleet ever for the occasion. Posted on 29 Jun
Transpac 2025 opens with Aloha send off
Aloha Spirit & Naval salutes on aboard historic USS Iowa It's not every day that serious offshore sailors get the opportunity to party aboard a decommissioned WWII battleship—but it's also not every day that world-class sailors gather to race across 2,225 miles of open Pacific Ocean. Posted on 29 Jun
Team Malizia starts Course Des Caps
Challenging race around the British Isles Team Malizia set sail today from Boulogne-sur-Mer, kicking off the inaugural Course des Caps race in light winds and challenging conditions with a solid start. Posted on 29 Jun
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range