Cut short

Two races and three way tie as strong winds blow at the J/80 Elvstrom Sobstad Southern Area Championships

The poor forecast for the weekend of May 12th and 13th reduced the entry for the J/80 Elvstrom Sobstad Southern Area Championships, hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble.

Saturday saw the Met Office Coastal forecast more accurate than Windguru for a change, with a steady 30 knots and gusts of up to 40 from the southwest, the race committee of the Royal Southern, headed by Race Officer Tony Lovell, had no choice but to abandon the days racing after flying the AP for a couple of hours in case the wind abated.

Sunday morning dawned with a south easterly wind of around 15 knots, darkclouds, driving rain, poor visibility and even thunder and lighting and with the breeze slowly increasing throughout the morning to 30 knots only two races were held.

In a steady easterly of 20-28 knots exciting and close racing on a windward leeward course showed the best of J/80 sailing. Downwind speeds over 16 knots with nice surfs down the short waves of the central Solent made for great photo opportunities.

Race 1 saw Jenga Trois helmed by Marie-Claude Heys win the favoured pin with Kevin Sproul sailing Jane in close attendance. Initially a pack led by Darren and Georgie Baker's Mad Cow from mid-line looked strong but then the Lee on Solent shore tidal relief and port tack lift kicked in, bringing Jenga to the top mark first with Jane right on her transom.

Kevin Sproul is usually the Grandmaster of downwind sailing in this sort of breeze, however a tack line rigged inside the pulpit reduced him to the speed of a mere mortal. Hammering downwind, planing past the two leaders was Mad Cow, only to overstand the mark and then follow this with a major spinnaker trawl, dropping them to fifth at the mark.

The next beat saw Jenga overstand the windward mark allowing Jane through (their tackline now rigged correctly) the Grandmaster took off and held the lead to the finish, followed by Jenga and Just Savage helmed by Chris Savage, with the owner, sister Liz Savage, doing all the hard work in the middle of the boat.

The second race was started in around 20 knots of breeze. This time Jenga was not in the vicinity of the pin early enough, allowing Jane, Just do it and Savage Sailing to lead off to the favoured left. Just Savage, climbed from under the bow of Jenga, forcing Jenga to take a costly clearing tack.

Jane and Savage Sailing opened a reasonable lead leaving Jenga fighting off Michael Livingstone's Jokers Wild for third at the windward mark. Jane, Savage Sailing and Jenga took off downwind only for Jane to round the mark the wrong way allowing the pursuing pair through, whilst they unwound their error.

Places remained the same on the next windward leg with the breeze now gusting 25- 30 knots. Savage Sailing were caught out a few strong gusts on the blast downwind allowing Jenga to plane through their lee, however a well executed late spinnaker drop by Savage Sailing allowed them to regain the overlap at the downwind mark, they maintained their lead to take a well deserved win in very robust conditions.

In the testing conditions the PRO called it a day and sent the fleet home. Just Savage, Jenga Trois and Jane were now tied on 4 points, with the tie break making the result of the last race, the final result of the weekend, so congratulations to Savage Sailing Team on a well won victory.

The next J/80 event is the Nexus Marine UK National Championship which will be hosted by Cardiff Bay Yacht Club from the 6th to the 9th of June.