The Raymarine Warsash Spring Series for keelboats gets underway this Sunday (13 March). Entries show an increase on last year at a current total of 180. This includes 100 in Black Group IRC and one design, 23 Hunter 707s and 18 Laser SB3s, with separate 1720, J/80 and mixed sportsboat classes. A number of Mumm 30s will also be out practising for Admiral’s Cup selection.

A trio of Swans will be gracing Black Group with “Lutine” (Swan 53), “Marinero” (Swan 46) and “Junkaroo” (Swan 44) all entered. Hamble River Winter Series winner Peter Rutter is back to try his luck again in the Elan 37 “Quokka” whilst Eurof Phillips, a Spring Series class winner last year, returns with a new boat “Great Scott III” (Elan 333). Rob Goddard will also be competing in his Farr 40 “Farrfalina” and Nick Lutte in the DK46 “Shockwave”. In the sportsboat White Group, along with the healthy turn out of one-designs and, this year in a class of their own, the J/80s, there will be two new Backman 21s, one being campaigned by Hans Backman.

As some racing marks have changed names, sponsors Raymarine are providing every entry with a new ‘Check Chart’ but one alteration came too late for inclusion and competitors are reminded that Marsh buoy is now called Burges Salmon.

Warsash Sailing Club’s riverside base at Shore House, near the entrance to the River Hamble, will provide fast on-screen results and for early arrivers there’s a supply of free beer or lager courtesy of Raymarine. For all weekly class winners present in the clubhouse there’s also a bottle of Mumm Champagne.