Another successful Spring Series of sailing

It was successful end to the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series and Spring Championship.

During the eight race days race officers have run more than 170 separate races and despite the unseasonably cold spring, there was a warm atmosphere in the clubhouse for socialising after the races.

J109s SardonyxIX JukeBox and Jubilee

The Spring Championships saw a disqualification on the IRC1 class for being caught over the line at the preparatory signal on Saturday (April 26) during the Black Group races.

A keen competition saw the class races going for all they could aiming for the top finishing spots.

But as grey clouds gathered overhead, with a short 27 knot gusts and hailstones, IRC3 and IRC4 called it a day after three races.

White Group raced near the North Channel with the tide pushing boats along the line. Starts went generally to plan with a couple of general recalls.

The J/70s and SB20s got away cleanly only for two SB20s to be swept onto the anchor line of the committee boat and across its bows, with the tide pinning them down. For the J/80s the start line was moved and a large fender marked the anchor chain. The wind here coming from the north was shifty and sometimes reaching 25 knots.

It was during one such gust in the last race of the day that an SB20 became caught on one of the buoys forming the leeward gate, reducing the gap just as the J/80 class arrived. Those in the lead were sufficiently spread out to negotiate the reduced space, but a group came as the race committee RIB was trying to lift the mark. The race had to be abandoned but was quickly re-sailed.

The strong tide had an impact on the runs, particularly in the gusts, with many boats from all classes being seen to white sail to the gate having been carried too deep.

The final day on Sunday (April 28) saw the Black Group take to the water.

For all boats, life was made interesting for tacticians and those watching the depth. The wind varied from the forecast later in the morning turning some of the runs into tight spinnaker reaches. With everyone back after two and a half to three hours’ racing, a very short second race was then held for the Spring Championship competitors only.

During the White Group’s competition, the wind continued to build through the three races to reach 15 knots by the end of the third race, causing a few broaches and “wineglasses”.

A prize-giving ceremony for the winners will take place on Friday May 17 at Shore House, Warsash.

The winners were as follows:

Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series 2013

Provisional class winners

IRC1 Tokoloshe (Michael Bartholomew)

IRC2 Puma Logic (Sailing Logic)

IRC3 Elaine (Mike Bridges)

IRC 4 Menace (Tim Rees, Derek and James Morland)

J/109 Jahmali (Mike and Sarah Willis)

Sigma 38 Mefisto (Kevin Sussmilch)

J/70 North Sails (Ruairidh Scott)

J/80 Betty (Jon Powell)