A Spring-like Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series?

(Warsash, England)- Who knew?! There really is a “spring” on the seasonal calendar.  Given the fact that northern Europe and the upper half of North America have all experienced an extraordinarily cold and dreary early spring, one can be forgiven for jumping for joy like kids when the sun pops out, nice warm winds caress our faces, and shorts can be worn for once!

Yes, spring finally did arrive for the Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series.  The great weather on Sunday also produced some of the best racing on the water.

The White Group had a light shifty SW breeze of 5 to 6 knots that eventually settled into 13 knots. The “U” flag (no boats permitted in the start line windward mark triangle in the last minute of start sequence) was used for the three J/70 starts, which all got away cleanly with most competitors within half a boat length of the start.

The number of J/70 entries was boosted by those boats in the Crewsaver Warsash Spring Championship which runs over the two weekends 21/22 and 28/29 April, and the quality of racing was excellent. The White Group J/70 fleet leader in the series is DSP (Douglas Struth) with JEEPSTER (Graham Clapp) in second position and PEGGY (Jon Powell) in third.

In the Spring Championship, after seven races, it is Jon Calascione’s CALYPSO leading with just 14 pts, with Marshall King’s SOAK RACING from Ireland in second with 19 pts and Philip Rees Bryn in third with 33 pts.  Rounding out the top five is Laurie Smith’s ALFIE in 4th and Martin Dent’s JELVIS in 5th.

Black Group Series
Black Group had two races on Sunday with mainly windward-leeward courses using fixed and laid marks. The wind was generally about 240 to 250 degrees and between 7 and 9 knots, but it did drop to 2 to 4 knots for a while during the first race, which meant the bigger deeper draft yachts who couldn't do as much tide dodging, came to a near standstill for a while. Tidal tactics were vital as the beats were quite long against the tide on the southern edge of the Brambles plateau and the breeze was unreliable.  The second race was a short and sharp one as the breeze picked up and the racecourse was busy and lively.

In IRC 1 Class race 4, Chris Daniel’s J/122 JUNO took second, while in race 5, Chris Jones’ J/111 JOURNEYMAKER II took the second. As a result, tied on third @ 8 pts for best records of the day were the J/122 JUNO and also Cornel Riklin’s J/111 JITTERBUG.

IRC2 is led overall by Chaz Ivill’s J/112E DAVANTI TYRES with a first and third on Sunday to retain their lead with a total of 6 pts net in five races (four counted).

In IRC3, Rachel, David & Robert Hunt’s J/97 JUMBLESAL 2 has climbed onto the provisional podium by scoring two 2nds o the date, sitting just one point in arrears of the silver with one weekend to go!  Just three points back from them is a perennial contender in the class, David Greenhalgh’s J/92 J’RONIMO.

The J/109 fleet saw Simon Perry’s JIRAFFE go over the line early in the first race and, after restarting last, was able to overtake the boats ahead in breeze and held on to win! Thereafter, Robert Stiles’ DIAMOND JEM won race 5. Consequently, JIRAFFE holds a healthy lead in the J/109 class overall, tossing a 2nd to count just 1sts and 2nds for 6 pts net.  Sitting in second is Mike & Susie Yates’ JAGO with 13 pts net and third id David McGough’s JUST SO with 16 pts.

In the J/88 fleet, David and Kirsty Apthorp’s J-DREAM had a dominant day with two wins.  However, Gavin Howe’s TIGRIS continues to lead the class overall by just a point over Richard Cooper’s JONGLEUR.  Holding comfortably onto third is Tim Tolcher’s RAGING BULL.

Black Championship
After the first weekend of sailing the Crewsaver Warsash Spring Championship, the IRC 1 Class sees groups of boats clumped together just one point shy of the podium, that is how close sailing has been in this tight fleet.  Cornell Riklin’s J/111 JTTERBUG is tied for 4th with 20 pts, only 1 pt away from the bronze. Her stablemates are just behind them, Daniel’s J/122 JUNO in 6th and Jones’ J/111 JOURNEYMAKER II in 7th.

The beautifully restored J/35 BENGAL MAGIC/ KNIGHT BUILD LTD is winning the class after closing with two bullets in the final two races for a total of just 9 pts in six races (5 counted).

Then, in IRC 3 Class, Andy Howe’s J/97 BLACKJACK II sits in second place with 9 pts, just one point off the lead.  And, Mike Lewis’ J/80 JESTER is third with 10 pts and Jack Banks’ J/92 NIGHTJAR is fourth.

Finally, leading the J/109 fleet in this event also happens to be Perry’s JIRAFFE.  Second is John Smart & Chris Copeland’s JUKEBOX and third is Chris Preston’s JUBILEE.

Peter Bateson, Series Chairman "Good luck to everyone for next Sunday 29th April, the final day of racing in this year's Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series.”

The Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series is The Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series is sponsored by Helly Hansen @HellyHansen #feelalive and organized and run by the Warsash Sailing Club. It is supported by race partners Crewsaver and Doyle Sails.   Sailing photo credits- Closed Hauled Photography   Follow the Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series on Facebook here  For more HELLY HANSEN Warsash Spring Series sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.


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