Hamble Winter Series 2025 Race Week 1, sponsored by Key Yachting
by Trevor Pountain 8 Oct 14:00 UTC
4-5 October 2025
In the build up the 44th Hamble Winter Series, all eyes were focused on the Grib files to see how Storm Amy would affect the proceedings. Try as they might, the Race Team could not find a forecast that would allow racing on Saturday 4th October.
This made the decision easy for Matt Stein, the CRO for the Hamble One Design Championship. He was able to cancel racing on Friday morning, giving those competitors who had to travel, including one from Italy, plenty of notice. I was able to confirm the decision as a good one from my vantage point in the Penguin Café, Lee on the Solent, on Saturday morning (other cafes are available).
There were just two training yachts testing their bright orange storm sails off Cowes, and the Red Jet High Speed to Southampton scurrying across the multitude of white horses.
By Sunday, Amy had lifted up her skirts and headed East. She left behind a good sailing breeze, interspersed with a number of interesting gusts. Matt Stein took the CV Flightwing out to 4S, Royal Southern buoy, with the intention of giving the J111s and J70s four races to compensate for the missed Saturday. PRO Peter Bateson headed towards 4V, Hamble Yacht Services, before settling the line for the IRC classes half a mile East of 4S.
On the One Design line, nineteen teams started in the J70 fleet. This was last of their Grand Slam events for the 2025 season, so no pressure! Three J111s started first and went to a further windward mark. The windward mark on Race 2 for the J70s arrived as a strong gust met the fleet. There proceeded to be a number of boat handling challenges as the kites went up. EV Experts, Tim Collins, managed to show a keel and test the buoyancy all at the same time. Everyone on board was fine and EV Experts headed home to Hamble realising that water ballast in a J70 is not very quick.
As is always the case, consistency prevailed in the J70 fleet. Jeepster, Max Clap went 4,3,3,7 in the four race, no discard, series. Dads 'N' Lads, Hector Simpson, was 4 points back with Genius. This left Arthur Farley, in third regretting a 17 in the first race, after which they went 1,2,3. Journeymaker 11, Louise Makin and Chris Jones, had a clean sweep in the J111 class with Frequent Flyer, Ella Wollman second and Jagerbomb, Paul Griffiths third.
The gusty conditions were also enjoyed by the three IRC classes. With a west going tide to add to the mix, Lis Robinson, Hot Rats, reported "There were more broaches in all classes than I have seen for a long time!" Lis also owned up to having a less than stellar start in the first race, having tried the spinnaker prestart and not quite recovering. The view from further down the fleet did allow the Rats to spot Mojo Risin' and Tigris rounding the leeward mark to port instead of starboard. Both yachts subsequently retired.
It is believed that Magec, Michael Garvey, secured a second in the first race by "white sailing" to avoid the problems others were experiencing. With Alacrity, Sigma 38, Chris and Vanessa Choules, who like a bit of wind up 'em, ended up with two bullets in IRC 2. This despite the fact that Chris was too ill to come to the clubhouse for a pint post-race. He must have been bad! Jenie, J109, Rosie Berry came second in the two races just pipping Hot Rats into third on countback.
In IRC 1 Cougar, Reflex 38, James Bathurst, beat Mad Dash, Elan 410, also on countback, whilst the Sunfast 3600, Tigris, Gavin Howe, had to count an OCS in the second race and came third.
In IRC 3, the now annual battle between Protis, Team Hamble and Banter, Ian Handley and Tim James was rejoined. Banter "was expecting 17-22 knots" said Ian, "but gusts of 26 knots greeted us on the racecourse." With only a light five in the crew they wisely chose to put in a reef. The result was a close-run thing with Protis home first 72 seconds ahead on corrected time.
Quokka 9, James Crew, was only 18 seconds behind Banter. It seems that Protis were "experimenting" with a white asymmetric during Race 1. It didn't reappear in Race 2! Not withstanding that Protis took a second win with Banter and Quokka 9 in second and third. Broach of the day in IRC 3 goes to Cartoon, Gavin Doyle.
Back in the HRSC clubhouse, Key Yachting presented some very welcome prizes to the windswept participants. Bubbles, Beer and Chocolates are always well received after a hard day's play on the Solent.
Next weekend will see the two-day Hamble IRC Autumn Championship take place. With 39 teams already entered, the stage is set for a competitive event. Force 4 Chandlery will be the sponsor.
Find out more at www.hamblewinterseries.com