J/109 JAHMALI, J/80 J2X, J/92 J'RONIMO Lead Their Classes(Warsash, So'ton, England)- The final gathering for the Warsash Spring Series and Spring Championship took place over 28th/29th April 2012 and was sponsored by SLAM. Earlier in the season, conditions had been bright, sunny and light, but this was all set to change. After a very damp week, the rain looked like continuing and more importantly forecasts highlighted gusts to 50 knots over the Solent on late Saturday/early Sunday. The race officers kept their collective fingers crossed, hoping the worst of the weather would blow through overnight but in the event all classes were cancelled on the final day.
Four races were scheduled for Black Group on Saturday- Day 3. The breeze came mainly from the northeast but with frequent minor oscillations. The committee boat set up station between North Ryde Middle and Mackley buoys with a finish at Goodacre. Races 1 and 2 were windward/leeward courses, two rounds totaling just under eight miles, with a half-mile spreader at the windward end to take boats up tide for an accurate run. Races 3 and 4 were shorter and as the tide had slackened, were simple windward/leewards. The final race included a starboard leeward rounding – just to keep crews on their toes! The breeze started around 11/12 knots for the first two races, increasing to 14/15 knots in the afternoon.
This year all boats in IRC1 and IRC2 were eligible for the Spring Championships. As no discards are allowed, consistency often paid. But, all efforts for the most part were for naught as Sunday's gale was the spoiler. After a successful Saturday’s racing, everyone hoped that the worst of the gale would go through the Solent overnight. There did seem to be the possibility of a lull during the middle of Sunday although a significant wind veer was also forecast. Beaulieu Boat Jumble was cancelled and the high speed Southampton/Isle of Wight ferries were suspended until lunch time. All racing for White Group was cancelled early on whilst Black Group was told to stay ashore as racing, if it were possible, would not commence before 1130. In the event, Black Group too was abandoned at 1000. Spring Series Chairman Peter Bateson said: “We were hoping to achieve a race for Black Group but it was still blowing Force 6 with gusts above 30 knots by mid morning. An expected wind shift from northeast to southeast meant we would not have guaranteed a good course for competitors, even if the wind had abated in time.”This left the standings for the Spring Series as of last week. After six races in IRC 1 Class, Ivan Trotman's J/122 JOLOU finished 4th overall.
The J/Sprit class was new this year and attracted a selection of J/92, J/97 and J/105 designs. Again there was keen competition for the top spot, the class winner being the J/92 J'RONIMO (David Greenhalgh & John Taylor) followed by Nick and Adam Munday's J/97 INDULJENCE. Third was Andy Howe's J/92 BLACKJACK, fourth Chris Jones' J/105 JOURNEYMAKER 5 and fifth Charles Ivill's J/97 BLACK MAGIC.
The J/109 class saw Mike & Sarah Wallis' JAHMALI lead the entire series to win comfortably. They were followed in 2nd by David Mcleman's OFFBEAT with David & Mary McGough's JUST SO in third.
The J/80s saw Rob Larke's J2X win by a landslide. Second was Stew Hawthorn's J'AI DEUX AMOURS and this was Nick and Anni Haigh's SLIGHTLY STEAMY. Just off the pace were Ian Atkins' team on BOATS.COM in fourth and Patrick Liardet's crew on AQUA-J. Sailing photo credits- Eddie Mays For more Warsash Spring Series sailing information
