(Hamble, England)- The Garmin Hamble Winter Series lived up to its name
on Sunday with torrential rain and a chilly 18 knots from the northwest
that left competitors glad to retire to the bar after racing for a few
"hot toddies" and warm Guinness! But despite the conditions the crews
and the volunteer race teams alike braved the conditions to fit in two
exciting races.The worst of the rain held off until the second race, with the first sailed in a marginally preferable light drizzle. In IRC 0, Cornel Riklin's J/111 JITTERBUG sailed fast to snag a 2-3 to be tied for second, just three points clear of David & Kirsty Apthorp's J/111 J-DREAM with a 4-4 tally.
In the J/111 class, Riklin’s JITTERBUG are sailing fast and smart and managed to beat the Apthorp's J-DREAM in both races to take first overall. Lying third is William Naylor's BRITISH SOLDIER.
Day prizes were – quite appropriately, given the foul weather conditions – provided by clothing supplier Hudson-Wight at the prize-giving back at Hamble River SC after racing, as well as by Southern Ropes, whose prizes went un-awarded last week due to the lack of wind.
Kudos to all the teams who braved Sunday’s weather and to the volunteers who manned the committee and mark-laying boats. Here’s hoping for better weather next weekend, which hosts the final MDL Hamble Big Boat Championship weekend and the third race day of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series, with One Sails as the Day Sponsor. Thanks for contribution from Ben Meakins. YouTube sailing video of Hamble Winter Series Sailing photo credits- Malcolm Donald For more Garmin Hamble Winter Series sailing information
