RAYMARINE WARSASH SPRING SERIES WEEK 2 - A PERFECT SAILING DAY

March 20, 2006 18:36 0 comments

The race management team of the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series have a long held belief that sailing decisions should await the dawning of race day and not be made in advance. For Week 2 of the series, they were proved right once again. Although the forecast threatened a Force 5 to 7 and possibly even 8, which would have caused cancellations to some classes, on the day the committee boat ventured into the Solent under a cloudless sky, with a moderate, north-easterly breeze and perfect sailing conditions for all competitors.

Discipline at the Black Group start was good, despite the strong east going tide encouraging boats over the line. The sportsboats on White Group were however a little too enthusiastic, resulting in several general recalls and one start under the black flag rule. The direct line on one Black Group leg took boats over the Bramble Bank, but only a couple went aground, most steering a conservative course. Competitors needed to stay focussed right up to the finish as hard won places were lost in the fluky wind shifts on the last beat, making the final decision on when to tack for the line an important one.

Several competitors continued their winning form from the opening race including "Quokka (IRC3), Glide-X (IRC4) and Java (Bowspprit/J105). Rob Bottomley’s new First 47.7 “Decosol” was the winner of IRC1 helmed by John Danby with “Werewolf” second. As always, racing was close in the Hunter 707 fleet with “Censored” finding the all important 18 seconds in Race 1. “Key Yachting” chalked up a further two wins in the 1720s.

Word had obviously got around about the Mumm champagne awaiting weekly class winners at the WSC clubhouse. No one missed out on picking up their bottle courtesy of sponsors Raymarine.