(Warsash, England)- An exhilarating day’s racing was completed for
the fourth gathering of the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series on
6th April 2014. Competitors come from near and far for this early season
contest and journeying through the driving rain to their boats early on
Sunday morning, the sailors might well have been thinking an indoor
sport could have been a better choice. During the racing however the
visibility cleared, the deluge stopped giving way to glimpses of warm
sunshine.
The weather forecast had suggested a brisk south-westerly in the 14
to 20 knot range but with, unusually, the possibility of double that in
the gusts. The Black Group committee boat set up station at Bart’s Bash
buoy just above the North Channel. Courses were set, largely cross-tide,
cascading east with windward legs towards the Isle of Wight shore,
giving protection from the heavier seas building up from the Western
Solent. Nonetheless, flag “Yankee” was hoisted requiring life jackets to
be worn. IRC1 and IRC2 shared a course and completed 15 miles. J/109
and IRC3 had a similar designed circuit of 12.5 miles. Tacticians were
kept busy at times hugging the shallower water to avoid the worst of the
rising tide on windward legs. Given the strong winds, there was many a
spinnaker trawled in the water. Warsash Sailing Club member Iain
Mcluckie, the Club’s photographer, multi-tasked to rescue several boats.
There was close racing in all classes with many boats nip-and-tuck on
the beats- altogether an exhausting but rewarding day’s racing.
In IRC1 the J/111 J-DREAM sailed by David and Kirsty Apthorp holds a
five point class lead in the Series. Trailing them in second for the
series is Simon Boadle’s MUNKENBECK and in third is Charles Ivill’s team
on ETB TYRES- JUST LIKE THAT!
Tired but elated sailors gathered at Warsash Sailing Club after
racing, well deserving the free beer! Tracey Gray, Investment Manager
from Brooks Macdonald, presented the weekly champagne prizes to class
winners and Douglas Struth of the J/80 DSP won the jacket donated by
SLAM UK. Next week the pace hots up, with the start of the Spring
Championship on 12th-13th April. 80 boats are already entered and more
are welcome in all classes. The second weekend of the Spring
Championship follows on 26th-27th April. There will be a party at
Warsash Sailing Club on the two Saturday nights (12th and 26th April)
with live music, food and a friendly bar available. The Spring Series
continues on 13th April, then takes a break over the Easter holidays
before reconvening for the grand finale on 27th April. For more Warsash Spring series sailing information