Gins action

Royal Southampton fleet head for Beaulieu for some weekend racing reports Andrew Campbell

The Royal Southampton Yacht Club arranged contrasting wind conditions for the Gins Regatta last weekend, much like the conditions for the Clarkson Cup held in May. The Gins Regatta is based at the RSYC's additional clubhouse on the Beaulieu River and racing is on the adjacent Solent waters.

Saturday's competitors were tested with westerly 30 to 35 knot winds by race 2. The wind and wind over tide sea resulted in a number of boats choosing not to sail in the conditions of race 1 and a few more chose to retire to the safety of Beaulieu before race 2.

Sail plan choices were modest at best with some competitors resorting to storm jibs in race 2. Only Starspray dared to try a spinnaker hoist in race 2 but was rapidly forced to revert to whites. Everyone was happy to return to the Gins clubhouse when the decision was made to postpone race 3. The competion continued fiercely ashore with tugs of war and table football (Day At The Races Excelled). Amusement was provided by the few who went Opi racing. Sunday brought WSW 10 to 12 knot winds bringing more boats out to race.

Class 1 IRC saw Andrew Bird in his J105 Jambalaya enjoying the heavy winds on Saturday leading the fleet and taking line honours in both of Saturday's races and honours for the day on handicap. Little Xtra III the X-362 skippered by Peter Cross gave Jambalaya a run for her money in race 1 finishing second over the line and on handicap with Ross Bateson on Starspray a First 31.7 taking third. Little Xtra IIIchose to save herself for Sunday and didn't take part in race 2. Steve & Wendy Flick in their X-332 Blue Moviez took up the torch to chase Jambalaya, finishing second in race 2 and third overall for the day. Ross Bateson and Starspray's consistency finishing third in race 2 gave them second place for the day.

Sunday's lighter breezes suited Peter Cross and Little Xtra III well and they took first place in race 3 & 4 and only just slipping into second in race 5 giving them second place in the series. Starspray was again showing good consistency taking second in race 3 and third in races 4 & 5 finishing third in the series. Blue Moviez came third in race 3. Jambalaya started slowly on Sunday but as the wind picked up a bit they moved up the fleet finishing second in race 4 and first in race 5. This gave them the class win for the weekend.

Class 3 Club saw Russell Hawkins skippering the chartered Dehler 41 Prospect of Sussex. Russell led his crew with skill and gave the Bavaria 44 Faze 3 a good race in Saturday's heavy winds. Russell's crew were having a stag weekend and most were new to racing. (Indoctrination by fire, learning racing in a gale!) The other competitors in the class didn't come out until Sunday. Faze 3 skippered by Andrew Campbell took line honours and handicap wins in both races. Sunday's lighter winds brought another two boats to the start line. Faze 3 took line honours in race 3 but had to settle for second in races 4 & 5 because as in the Clarkson Cup Sunday's conditions allowed Roger Townsend's Prism 25 Backchat to show its true colours and dominate in the lighter conditions, finishing the day with line honours in races 4 & 5 and handicap wins in the days 3 races. Prospect of Sussex finished third. Overall for the series Andrew Campbell on Faze 3 took first, with Roger Townsend's Backchat second and Russell Hawkins on the Dehler 41 third.

IRC CLASS 1 GINS SERIES RESULTS
1. Jambalaya J105 Andrew Bird
2. Little Xtra III X-362 Peter Cross
3. Starspray First 31.7 Ross Bateson
4. Blue Moviez X-332 Steve/Wendy Flick
5. Tai-pan First 31.7 David Jobson

CLUB CLASS 3 GINS SERIES RESULTS
1. Faze 3 Bavaria 44 Andrew Campbell
2. Backchat Prism 25 Roger Townsend
3. Prospect of Sussex Dehler 41 Russell Hawkins
4. She of Sussex She 31B Paul Goodwin