The case of the disappearing pin

Freezing cold and on the water fog for the final round of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series

While some dry-sailed boats were trapped ashore after last week’s snow and ice, those crews that ventured out for the final day of the 2010 Garmin Hamble Winter Series had not only to deal with fog, but also a gradually dying northerly breeze. Even the steadily falling temperature failed to dampen the enthusiasm of both Black and White fleet competitors, intent on securing a good result in the overall standings. Poor visibility meant that Race Director Jamie Wilkinson and his team aboard Tony Lovell’s Bonney were unable to see the outer distance mark so a RIB was despatched to the midpoint to create a split start line for the Black Fleet. Meanwhile Philip Gage aboard Knight’s Challenge at the pin end had switched on his radar to detect OCS boats.

Thankfully these were few in number and all seven classes got away first time, with the Fastnet Insurance and East Bramble buoys as windward marks, before returning downwind through the fierce ebb tide to leeward marks on the Ryde Middle. Despite the tidal offset in the course some boats lost out by not making enough easting early in the run, and this was made worse by the light breeze that was sometimes down to 2 knots.

Responding to the slow pace of the racing, all classes had their courses shortened, and once more the technology aboard Knight’s Challenge was being put to use. By then the fog had cleared but some boats were being identified using AIS as they approached the finish line and before their sail numbers became visible.

Although the overall winners of most classes had been settled the previous week, as expected the front-runners for the Garmin Yacht of the Year Award were out again to consolidate their results, including the leading Sigma 38 Festina Lente. This time it was daughter Bryony Meakins at the helm and notching up her first win, with dad Philip sent forward to the mast.

Of the other contenders David and Kirsty Apthorp’s J-Dream slipped to second place behind Richard and Valerie Griffith’s OutraJeous in the J/109 class, while Mike and Jamie Holmes Jika-Jika in IRC3 took a 20% penalty dropping her to fifth, and providing Kevin Sproul and his crew in the Beneteau First 30 with their first win of the series, albeit with a two-point score.

One boat that beat the freeze and was launched on Saturday was Niall Dowling and John Cunningham’s brand new J/111 Arabella. Her debut win in IRC0 provided a demo of things to come, while Vernon Bradley’s J/105 Jackpot in IRC2 took her first win of the series ahead Peter Dessent’s Elan 380 Dezzeo.

For the White Fleet conditions were no better, and with a strong tide running across the course PRO Rob Lamb set starboard roundings for the windward and spreader marks to provide a large offset. With fog obscuring either end of the lengthened beat a RIB was helpfully positioned halfway down the run to guide the fleets to the leeward gate. Two races were completed before the breeze got too light, with Jo Llewellyn, Nigel Wakefield & Jeremy Vigus clinching the overall win in the Laser SB3 fleet with 1st and 3rd places, while John Cooper’s Oi! in the J/80s put the finishing touches to their scoreline with two more emphatic wins.

Elvstrom Sails was the day sponsor with Andrew Smith presenting the prizes to the day's race winners, and Hamble River Sailing Club's Commodore Pat North also thanking the title sponsor Garmin and the competitors for making this series another big success for everyone involved.

2010 Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Overall Results:

Black Fleet:

IRC 0
1st 'Jua Kali ' Mervyn Hughes, 17 points
2nd 'Biela' Richard Barnes, 20
3rd 'Paragon' Michael Blair, 24

IRC 1
1st 'Vortex' Tim Harrington, 11 points
2nd 'Visit Malta Puma' Phillipe Falle, Sailing Logic Ltd., 14
3rd 'Interceptor' Stuart and James Wilkie, 33

IRC 2
1st 'Steady Barker' Michael Brough, 15 points
2nd 'Elaine' Mike Bridges, 20
3rd 'Starspray' Bateson Family, 31

IRC 3
1st 'Jika-Jika' Mike and Jamie Holmes, 11 points
2nd 'Scarlet Jester' Jamie Muir, 26
3d 'Beneteau First 30' Kevin Sproul, 48

IRC 4
1st 'Patriot Games' Paul Blowers and Nick Daniels, 11 points
2nd 'Polly' Ben Meakins and Adrian Cudmore, 15
3rd 'Crakajax' Ursula Bagnall & Richard Hollis, 33

Sigma 38
1st 'Festina Lente' Meakins Family, 11 points
2nd 'With Alacrity' Chris and Vanessa Choules, 18
3rd 'Rapscallion' Peter Diamond, 22

J/109
1st 'J-Dream' David & Kirsty Apthorp, 11 points
2nd 'Offbeat' David McLeman, 25
3rd 'Outrajeous' Richard & Valerie Griffith, 27

White Fleet:

Laser SB3
1st GBR3082 J. Llewellyn, N. Wakefield and J. Vigus, 26 points
2nd 'Rumbleflurg' David Cummins, 32
3rd 'PB11' Mark Gillett and James Ross, 63

J/80
1st 'Oil!’ John Cooper, 21 points
2nd 'Aqua-J' Mark Liardet, 32
3rd 'Swallow' Gordon Craigen, 41

SBR Sportsboats 

1st 'Big Grin' Gary Shaffer, 5 points 

2nd 'X-Tatic' Ian Wilson, 9

3rd 'Lutine Belle' Lloyd's Yacht Club, 20

IRC 3
1st 'Jika-Jika' Mike and Jamie Holmes, 11 points
2nd 'Scarlet Jester' Jamie Muir, 26
3d 'Beneteau First 30' Kevin Sproul, 48

IRC 4
1st 'Patriot Games' Paul Blowers and Nick Daniels, 11 points
2nd 'Polly' Ben Meakins and Adrian Cudmore, 15
3rd 'Crakajax' Ursula Bagnall & Richard Hollis, 33

Sigma 38
1st 'Festina Lente' Meakins Family, 11 points
2nd 'With Alacrity' Chris and Vanessa Choules, 18
3rd 'Rapscallion' Peter Diamond, 22

J/109
1st 'J-Dream' David & Kirsty Apthorp, 11 points
2nd 'Offbeat' David McLeman, 25
3rd 'Outrajeous' Richard & Valerie Griffith, 27

White Fleet:

Laser SB3
1st GBR3082 J. Llewellyn, N. Wakefield and J. Vigus, 26 points
2nd 'Rumbleflurg' David Cummins, 32
3rd 'PB11' Mark Gillett and James Ross, 63

J/80
1st 'Oil!’ John Cooper, 21 points
2nd 'Aqua-J' Mark Liardet, 32
3rd 'Swallow' Gordon Craigen, 41

SBR Sportsboats
1st 'Big Grin' Gary Shaffer, 5 points
2nd 'X-Tatic' Ian Wilson, 9
3rd 'Lutine Belle' Lloyd's Yacht Club, 20