(Hamble, So'ton, England)- The 29th Warsash Spring Series gets underway this Sunday 18th March. Again the Spring Series and Spring Championship will follow the popular tried and tested formula but the race management team at Warsash Sailing Club has also taken on board feedback from competitors with a view to improving the event still further.New for the 2012 Spring Series will be a J-Sprit class for J/105, J/100, J/97, J/95 and J/92 designs, racing together under IRC ratings. Spring Series Chairman Peter Bateson commented: “We feel this addition will benefit those boats with very similar sailing characteristics and competitors can enjoy courses designed for them, rather than sharing with conventionally rigged boats.”
The Spring Championship weekends, with racing on Saturday and Sunday, are being held on 21st/22nd and 28th/29th April. The Championship is being held on the final two weekends with multiple races for IRC1, IRC2, J/109s and J/80s, amongst others. There is also a separate class for trialists for the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup, currently with 10 entries in Black Group IRC 2 Class, including David Aisher's J/109 YEOMAN OF WIGHT.
Many class trophy winners of 2011 are returning to the fray to defend their titles – including JAHMALI (J/109) and AQUA-J (J/80). David and Kirsty Apthorp have been keen contenders in the J/109 division for several years but for 2012 their J-DREAM is a J/111 which will enjoy keen competition with J/111 sisterships ICARUS sailed by Charles Rolls and Andrew Christie, JEEZ LOUISE skippered by James Arnell and SHMOKIN JOE sailed by Duncan Mcdonald. It looks like the Black Group IRC 1 Class will have some pretty extraordinary competition in addition to the 111s. Factor in two J/122s, Ken Lowes' GHOST and Ivan Trotman's JOLOU and two J/133s, Neil Martin's JAMMY DODGER and Dave Ballantyne's JINGS! and you have nearly half of IRC 1 being J/Boat owners vying for the podium. The J/109 class has a very strong showing of fourteen boats and amongst them are some familiar names returning to the Spring Series for a shot at some silverware. Sure to be in the contention include Mike & Sarah Wallis' JAHMALI, David & Mary McGough's JUST SO, Richard & Valerie Griffith's OUTRAJEOUS, Paul Griffith's JAGERBOMB and David Mcleman's OFFBEAT.
In the newly formed J/Sprit Class, the mix of J/92s, J/97s and J/105s will make for some excellent racing by several successful teams over the past few seasons. Chief amongst them should be the leading J/92s, including Andy Howe's BLACKJACK and John Taylor and David Greenhalgh's J'RONIMO. Within the J/97s, Nick and Adam Munday's INDULJENCE and last year's champion Michael Holmes' JIKA-JIKA should be at the top of the pack. If there's good J/105 weather with a bit of reaching, look for Chris Jones' seasoned offshore campaigners on JOURNEYMAKER 5 to factor into the results depending on weather and course layouts.
The J/80 section continues to grow in popularity, with Stewart Hawthorn on J'AI DEUX AMOURS and Nick and Annie Haigh on SLIGHTLY STEAMY swapping from Black Group classes. The increase in numbers may perhaps be due to the J/80 World Championships being held in Dartmouth later in the summer. Also, some class veterans notably missing from last year's action are back on course, including Ian Atkins' BOATS.COM and Tony Hanlon on the Royal Air Force Sailing Team's SPITFIRE. For more Warsash Spring Series sailing results. Sailing Photo Credit- Tim Wright- photoaction.com
