A large number of pirates were seen in the Solent on Sunday 5 November when many of the crews competing in the Hamble Charity Pursuit Race, along with the Race Committee, enlivened this light hearted event by adopting piratical clothing. The skull and crossbones flag was also prominent on the water.

The race was held at the halfway point of the nine-week Garmin Hamble Winter Series, with the entire proceeds of the race and the auction that will take place next week going to the Hamble Inshore Lifeboat, the John Merricks Trust, and Sail for Cancer. Early morning fog gave way to sunshine just in time for the long stream of boats to be released from a single starting line according to their allocated handicaps.

With an increasingly strong ebb tide running, there was barely enough westerly breeze to get the boats round the course, but most of the fleet sportingly carried on to the end of a race that averaged two and a half hours for the competing crews.

Although the race was for two classes, Sportsboats and IRC, all competing boats started from the same line and sailed the same course. In theory, all boats taking part in a pursuit race should finish at the same time if the handicaps are perfect and everybody sails to them without making any errors. In practice, of course, this never happens and this race was no exception. In the light going, David Greenhalgh’s Cork 1720 ‘G & T’ sailed by his daughter Libby and team made their way to the front and finished with a handsome lead.

Matthew Boyle’s J/109 ‘Shiva’ led the IRC boats home.

Results

Sportsboat class

1. Cork 1720, “G & T” Team Greenhalgh
2. Laser SB3, “Apache” Tim Chandler
3. J/80, “Jevan” Robert & Jonathan Fox
4. Hunter 707, “Enriched” Patrick Dobbs

IRC class

1. J/109, “Shiva” Matthew Boyle
2. Elan 340, “Premier” Jim MacGregor
3. Elan 40, “Flair IV” Jim MacGregor
4. J/109, “Red Arrow” RAF Sailing Association
5. Sigma 38, “Festina Lente” Meakins Family
6. First 44.7, “KoKo Kai” Dr Kristin Pagano