Hudson Wight

A fantastic and sometimes testing day's racing in the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series on Sunday 12 April, leaves the overall Series results very close in IRC 1 and 2.

Icarus in IRC 1 (J111 Chris Body & Andrew Christie) and last year's IRC 2 winners Salvo (JND 35 Peter Morton) may be leading their classes, but only by a narrow two point lead. Sailing Logic's Arthur Logic (Beneteau First 40) and James Willkie's Fast Tack Puma (Reflex 38) are hot on their heels with two Sunday's of racing to go.

On the other end of the scale Little Louise (Nigel Evans) racing in the J70 class is looking comfortable with a nine point lead over Jumanji (David Mitchell). In the J80's Betty (John Powell) is sitting on a six point lead over Boysterous (Ali Hall) and F5 Synthesiser (Pieter Heyn) further consolidated its ten point lead in the SB20's with another race win.

Competitors welcomed the consistent 15-22 knots of south to south westerly breeze and brilliant sunshine particularly since the third Sunday of the series had been cancelled due to the heavy conditions.

Peter Knight, Race Officer White Group "It was certainly a day of exciting sailing; although slightly alarming when we spotted one J70 heading straight into the shore with its spinnaker flying – that set some hearts racing on the committee boat!

"We had to change the course for the last race because the wind veered round to the right. A lot of the boats were being pushed sideways by the tide on the run and so they had to drop spinnakers early and fetch up to the leeward mark".

The Black Group start was set just west of East Bramble buoy, with courses of 12 – 17 miles set as a series of beats to Norris and Royal London YC buoys close to Cowes, with runs and deep spinnaker reaches from there down to Lee-on-the Solent, using a mix of fixed marks and laid inflatables for the different classes.

Celebrating their first race wins of the Series were Pincer Movement (JPK1010 – Richard & Lucy Searle) in IRC 3, Xara (Swan 38SR – Jonathan Rolls)) in IRC 4 and Jolly Jack Tar (Joe Henry) in the J109's. Last year's IRC 3 winner Stiletto (Beneteau First 35) began to recover some of the last years winning form with a 2^nd place.

The series will hot up even more for the final two weekends, 18-19 and 25-26 April, with the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship running alongside the Spring Series. There are already over 100 entries for the Championship - last minute entries are welcome to join in.

This week's Crewsaver lifejacket draw was won by Olly Straker from IRC 4 boat Saellan Vaerre. The series prizes were presented by Jonathan Broad from sponsor Brooks Macdonald.

Full race results and Championship entry forms are available at http://warsashspringseries.org.uk/2015.

The Warsash Spring Series is sponsored by Brooks Macdonald Group PLC, and supported by race partners Crewsaver, Hudson Wight Performance Sailwearand Rolly Tasker Sails.

Enquiries regarding the event can be made to admin@warsashspringseries.org.uk.

Results

IRC1: Icarus (Chris Body & Andrew Christie – JIII)

IRC2: Fast Track Puma (James Wilkie, Fast Tack Sailing)

IRC3: Pincer Movement (Richard & Lucy Searle)

IRC4: Xara (Jonathan Rolls)

J109: Jolly Jack Tar (Joe Henry)

J70: Little Louise (Nigel Evans)

J80: Betty (Jon Powell)

SB20:F5 Synthesis (Pieter Heyn)

- ends -

Photo caption: J109 Jynnan Tonnyx crosses IRC2 Sirens Tigress.

Photo credit: Iain Mcluckie