Trial run

Preparations successfully carried out for the opening round of the Warsash Spring Series this weekend

The bitterly cold wind and forecast of snow did not deter the 50-strong race management team last Sunday for the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series and Spring Championship 2013 'practice day'. All systems afloat and ashore were checked, ready for the opening races of the 30th Series on 17 March. Only the competitors were missing, but nonetheless the race officers organised plenty of OCS and general recalls to make sure the procedures would go smoothly.

As well as six Spring Series Sundays, the Spring Championship is being held over the final two weekends with multiple races and no discards allowed – no time for slip ups! The full Notice of Race and entry details are published on www.warsashspringseries.org.uk. Spring Series, Spring Championship and day entries are all welcome.

Sailing Instructions have been posted to those currently entered and the final class splits for the IRC handicap sections will be published on Thursday 14 March.

The event uses the standard Solent Cruising and Racing Association buoy coding system. Some marks and buoy names change each year and to ensure competitors are bang up-to-date, a free 2013 'Buoy Racer' laminated chart is supplied as part of the entry pack. Skippers can also download a GPS-friendly version of the main marks list from the SCRA website.

Many class trophy winners of 2012 are returning to the fray to defend their titles including Magnum III (Andrew Pearce – IRC1), Starspray (IRC3 – Bateson Family), Jahmali (J/109 – Mike and Sarah Willis), Mefisto (Sigma 38 – Kevin Sussmilch) and Erik the Red (IRC4 – Bernard Fyans). The event will also see the first dedicated class for the new J/70 design where several skippers have demonstrated prowess in other classes including Ian Atkins (Boats.com) and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund’s Spitfire sponsored by SLAM, who are also the official clothing sponsors for the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series.

Warsash Sailing Club extends a warm welcome to all competitors at Shore House where on-screen results are available. A free water taxi service is in operation on Sundays before and after racing to and from berths up river as far as Port Hamble. Weekly champagne prizes are presented as well as a SLAM Force 1 jacket.