Hudson Wight

Last weekend (25/26 April) saw the deciding races in the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series and the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship.

Raygun in IRC2 (Ker 32 - Mark Devereaux) and Jitterbug in the J111's (Cornel Riklin) never dropped a podium place throughout the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship and deservedly won their respective classes. Ian Atkins' Boats.com swept to victory once again in the J70 class winning the class overall.

Malice in IRC3 (HOD 35 - Mike Moxley) went into the final weekend of the Championship with just a two point lead over Elaine (Elan 37 – Mike Bridges) but maintained her lead and won the class six points ahead. Conversely, last years IRC1 winner, Tokoloshe II (GP42 – Michael Bartholomew) lost out by six points to Antix (Ker 40 - Anthony O'Leary) who took first place.

Captain Pugwash (George Barker) in the SB20 class gave F5 Synthesis (Pieter Heyn) a run for her money in the final races but in the end it wasn't enough to dislodge her from top place, either in the Spring Championship or the Spring Series. J80 Betty (Jon Powell) also maintained her first place position to win both.

The boats were sailing in a force 3-4 south westerly on the Saturday, which veered close to due west for a time but backed once again during race three so the course did become biased for a couple of the classes but was re-aligned to the new wind direction for the remaining two.

Black Group was based near Champagne Pol Roger buoy off Lee Point in order to fully utilise the south west breeze. Windward-leeward courses were laid using inflatable marks in the deep water to the north of the Ryde Middle bank. The White Group was racing in its usual spot on the Meon shore.

Peter Bateson, Series Chairman "The racing has been cracking not only this weekend but through the whole Spring Series and Spring Championship. We have had more boats competing this year and it has been a pleasure to see so many regular competitiors return and to welcome the numerous newcomers."

Whilst the Sunday (26 April) was overcast, quite chilly and the wind was back to the north/north easterly direction which has prevailed through most of the series, the competitors remained undeterred. In particular the two Singapore Sailing Federation boats; Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and their crews.

Black Group's first race, Class 4 started from near Wight Vodka and went up to William buoy before running all the way down to Cowes, then a couple of windward-leeward legs before the finish at a lad mark between Flying Fish and Artemis.

The other four classes started near South Ryde Middle and beat up towards Lee-on-Solent to a laid mark between Hamble Yachts Services and Fastnet Insurance; then a series of windward-leeward legs back to Ryde Middle and the Island shore and finish in the same place as IRC4.

White Group moved onto the Bramble Bank in an effort to avoid the large shifts associated with offshore breeze close to the shore and to take advantage of the neap tide.

The conclusion of the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series saw Little Louise (Nigel Evans) storm home to a conclusive victory in the J70 class as did Crakajax (X-95 – Richard & Ursula Hollis) in IRC4.

Elsewhere the final battle was more closely fought with Antix winning the Spring Series in IRC1 (Ker 40 – Anthony O'Leary) with four points over Alice (Mumm 36 – Simon Henning). In the J109's Jagerbomb (Paul Griffiths) slipped in with a series win just two points ahead of Just So (David Mcgough).

Salvo (JND 35 - Peter Morton) took the Spring Series once again in IRC2 beating Doyle Sails (Corby 35 – Tim Octon) and in IRC 3 Malice (HOD 35 – Mike Moxley) stole the series from last year's winners, Stiletto (Beneteau First 35 – John Barrett), with an impressive ten point lead.

The Sunday afternoon saw a packed Warsash Sailing Club with the last of the weekly champagne prizes presented, with a total of 22 bottles on offer. The prizes were presented by top racing coach Jim Saltonstall and Michael Bartholomew's distinctive black flyer Tokoloshe II not only collected a couple of bottles of champagne but also won the draw for the week's Crewsaver lifejacket.

Peter concludes "We have received a lot of positive feedback from competitiors which we are really pleased about and will feed into next years Series and Championship.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to our sponsors, Brooks Macdonald, safety partner Crewsaver and race partners Rolly Tasker Sails and Hudson Wight Performance Sailwear who have supported the Spring Series and Spring Championship this year".

The Prizegiving ceremony will take place on Friday 15 May 7.30pm at Warsash Sailing Club.

To see the full Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship and Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series results go to: warsashspringseries.org.uk.

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

Results Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series

IRC1: Antix (Anthony O'Leary)

IRC2: Salvo (Peter Morton – JND 35)

IRC3: Malice (Mike Moxley – Hod 35)

IRC4: Crakajax (Richard & Ursula Hollis)

J109: Jagerbomb (Paul Griffiths)

J70: Little Louise (Jamie Arnell)

J80: Betty (Jon Powell)

SB20: F5 Synthesis (Pieter Heyn)

Results Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship

IRC1: Antix (Anthony O'Leary)

IRC2: Raygun (Mark Devereaux)

IRC3: Malice (Mike Moxley – Hod 35)

IRC4: Umzingeli (Ralph Mason)

J109: Jacobi (Ivan Burden)

J111: Jitterbug: (Cornel Riklin)

J88: Eat, Sleep,J, Repeat (Paul Ward)

Quarter Ton: Aguila (Sam Laidlaw)

Sigma 38: Pavlova III (Max Walker)

J70: Boats.com (Ian Atkins)

J80: Betty (Jon Powell)

SB20: F5 Synthesis (Pieter Heyn)