Done and dusted

Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series and the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship conclude

Last weekend saw the deciding races in the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series and the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship.

Mark Devereaux's Ker 32 Raygun in IRC2 and Cornel Riklin's Jitterbug in the J111s never dropped a podium place throughout the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship and deservedly won their respective classes. Ian Atkins’ Boats.com swept to victory once again in the J/70 class winning it overall.

Mike Moxley's HOD 35 Malice in IRC3 went into the final weekend of the Championship with just a two point lead over Mike Bridges' Elan 37 Elaine, but maintained her lead and won the class six points ahead. Conversely, last year's IRC1 winner, Mike Bartholomew's Tokoloshe II lost out by six points to Anthony O’Leary's turboed Ker 40, Antix, which took first place.

In the SB20 class George Barker's Captain Pugwash gave Pieter Heyn's F5 Synthesis a run for her money in the final races, but in the end it wasn’t enough to dislodge her from top place, either in the Spring Championship or the Spring Series. Jon Powell's J/80 Betty also maintained her first place position to win both.

The boats were sailing in a force 3-4 southwesterly on the Saturday, which veered close to due west for a time, but backed once again during race three so the course did become biased for a couple of the classes but was re-aligned to the new wind direction for the remaining two.

Black Group was based near Champagne Pol Roger buoy off Lee Point in order to fully utilise the south west breeze. Windward-leeward courses were laid using inflatable marks in the deep water to the north of the Ryde Middle bank. The White Group was racing in its usual spot on the Meon shore.

Peter Bateson, Series Chairman commented: “The racing has been cracking not only this weekend but through the whole Spring Series and Spring Championship. We have had more boats competing this year and it has been a pleasure to see so many regular competitiors return and to welcome the numerous newcomers.”

While the Sunday was overcast, quite chilly and the wind was back to the north/north easterly direction which has prevailed through most of the series, the competitors remained undeterred, in particular the two Singapore Sailing Federation boats - Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and their crews.

The conclusion of the Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series saw Nigel Evans' Little Louise storm home to a conclusive victory in the J/70 class as did Richard & Ursula Hollis' X-95 Crakajax in IRC4.

Elsewhere the final battle was more closely fought with Antix winning the Spring Series in IRC1 with four points over Simon Henning's Mumm 36 Alice. In the J/109s Paul Griffiths' Jagerbomb slipped in with a series win just two points ahead of David Mcgough Just So.

Peter Morton's JND35 Salvo took the Spring Series once again in IRC2 beating Tim Octon's Corby 35 Doyle Sails and in IRC 3 Mike Moxley's HOD 35 Malice stole the series from last year’s winners, John Barrett's Beneteau First 35 Stiletto with an impressive ten point lead.

The Sunday afternoon saw a packed Warsash Sailing Club with the last of the weekly champagne prizes presented, with a total of 22 bottles on offer. The prizes were presented by top racing coach Jim Saltonstall and Michael Bartholomew’s distinctive black GP42 Tokoloshe II not only collected a couple of bottles of champagne but also won the draw for the week’s Crewsaver lifejacket.

Peter Bateson concluded: “We have received a lot of positive feedback from competitiors which we are really pleased about and will feed into next years Series and Championship. I’d like to say a big thank you to our sponsors, Brooks Macdonald, safety partner Crewsaver and race partners Rolly Tasker Sails and Hudson Wight Performance Sailwear who have supported the Spring Series and Spring Championship this year."

The Warsash Spring Series is sponsored by Brooks Macdonald Group PLC, and supported by race partners Crewsaver, Hudson Wight Performance Sailwear and Rolly Tasker Sails.

Results Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series
IRC1: Antix (Anthony O’Leary)
IRC2: Salvo (Peter Morton – JND 35)
IRC3: Malice (Mike Moxley – Hod 35)
IRC4: Crakajax (Richard & Ursula Hollis)
J109: Jagerbomb (Paul Griffiths)
J70: Little Louise (Jamie Arnell)
J80: Betty (Jon Powell)
SB20: F5 Synthesis (Pieter Heyn)

Results Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship
IRC1: Antix (Anthony O’Leary)
IRC2: Raygun (Mark Devereaux)
IRC3: Malice (Mike Moxley – Hod 35)
IRC4: Umzingeli (Ralph Mason)
J109: Jacobi (Ivan Burden)
J111: Jitterbug: (Cornel Riklin)
J88: Eat, Sleep,J, Repeat (Paul Ward)
Quarter Ton: Aguila (Sam Laidlaw)
Sigma 38: Pavlova III (Max Walker)
J70: Boats.com (Ian Atkins)
J80: Betty (Jon Powell)
SB20: F5 Synthesis (Pieter Heyn)