Win for Bottomley's new Decosol

A report from the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series

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 two 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, northeasterly 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. The Series continues on Sunday 26 March.

Results:

	Black Fleet:
IRC1		Decosol	First 47.7	Rob Bottomley
IRC2		Cool Runnings	X-35	Juncker Visser/Jochem Thorkild
IRC3		Quokka	Elan 37	Peter Rutter
IRC4		Glide-X	X-332	Ian Dawson
IRC5		Hobby Horse	Mustang	Mike Fawcett
Bowsprit		Java	J-105	Paul & Marie-Claude Heys
J109		Jahmali		Mike/Sarah Willis
Sigma 38		Festina Lente		Meakins family
	White Fleet:
Hunter 707	Race 1	Censored		Williams, Gorman, Breslin & Simmonds
	Race 2	The Ant Hill Mob		Sanders,  Hall, Hunt & Barber
Cork 1720	Race 1	Key Yachting		Paul Hughes
	Race2	Key Yachting		Paul Hughes
Laser SB3	Race 1	Gul		Mike Budd
	Race 2	Loco		Calum Smeaton
J-80	Race 1	Just Savage		Liz Savage
	Race 2	Just Savage		Liz Savage
Sportsboat	Race 1	Quarter Back	Backman 21	Thrower, Duriam & Mitchell
	Race 2	Quarter Back	Backman 21	Thrower, Duriam & Mitchell