The racing for the Garmin Hamble Winter Series incorporated Autumn Championships for six classes over the weekend, with Laser SB3s, J/80s and Hunter 707s contesting five races on the White Fleet courses, and the Prima 38s, J/109s and First 31.7s racing four times on the Black Fleet courses.

Business commenced Saturday morning in gloomy conditions with only a light easterly breeze, which then built sufficiently by mid morning to provide some excellent racing. The largest class was the Laser SB3s, with 44 boats competing, and the outstanding feature was the extreme closeness of the racing, which caused severe congestion at the leeward mark on several occasions, resulting voices being raised. Geoff Carveth, sailing Parava, led at the end of the day scoring 1, 3, and 2, which was remarkably good in such a competitive fleet. Craig Burlton, in monkeyoffice.co.uk was also consistent with 7, 2 and 1.

With considerably more elbow room, Peter Henney in Nemo led the J/80s with 1, 1, and 3, while Russel Mead of the Ant Hill Mob topped the Hunter 707s with three bullets.

On the Black Group courses, Mervyn Hughes on White Knuckles led the Prima 38s from Mike Lawrence on Longbow, with Tom Hayhoe and Natalie Jobling’s Mostly Harmless in third place. Peter Bresnan on Newton’s Wonder was the leader among the J/109s, from Steve Maine and Judy Windmeiller on J2EAU. Andy Phelps on Elektra topped the First 31.7s, ahead of Stephen Parry’s Kurketrekker.

Sunday morning brought the welcome added ingredient of sunshine, together with even better breezes. Carveth remained in charge of the SB3s to win well from Burlton, with Mike Budd in Gull finishing third.

Peter Henney finished the job nicely in the J/80s, with Liz Savage on Savage Racing Team in second place. Russel Mead’s Ant Hill Mob perhaps relaxed a little in the Hunter 707s, but still took the overall win from Messrs Gorman, Williams, Breslin and Simmonds on Censored followed by Ed Hipkin in Sharkin Mad.

White Knuckles retired from Sunday’s Prima 38 race, allowing Longbow to take the overall victory from Mostly Harmless, with White Knuckles down to third. In the J/109s, Newton’s Wonder held on to win, while Guy Knight/Five Star Sailing’s Beth scored a bullet to overtake J2EAU for second overall. Elektra won well in the First 31.7s, with Kurketrekker just holding on to second place on countback from David Johnson’s Tai-Pan.

Then it was back to the main Garmin Hamble Winter Series on Sunday, with the yachts in the six classes which contested the Autumn Championships scoring points in either, or both of the series, depending on their entries, and the competing boats in the other seven classes racing as they normally do each Sunday in the series. Most of the races went according to the form shown the previous Sunday, but there is still a long way to go in the series between now and 3 December, leaving much to play for.

At the prize giving on Sunday, goodies provided by Garmin went to the winners of the Autumn Championships, and Marine MegaStore donated the prizes for the Sunday series.

Results

Autumn Championships (class winners)

Laser SB3, Parava Geoff Carveth
Hunter 707, The Ant Hill Mob Russel Mead
J/80, Nemo Peter Henney
J/109, Newton’s Wonder Peter Bresnan
First 31.7, Electra Andy Phelps
Prima 38, Longbow Mike Lawrence.

Garmin Hamble Winter Series
Race winners, White Fleet

Laser SB3 Races 1 & 2, Gul, Mike Budd
J/80 Races 1&2, Juno, Kristi Roger
Hunter 707 Race 1, Sharkin Mad, Ed Hipkin, Race 2, Censored, messrs Gorman, Williams, Bresslin and Simmonds
SBR Sportsboats Races 1 & 2, Boats.com, Ian Atkins

Race winners, Black Fleet

IRC 0, Windsong, Stuart Brown
IRC 1, Jammy Dodger, Neil Martin
IRC 2, Flair IV, Jim MacGregor
IRC 3, Glide-X, Ian Dawson
IRC 4, Tangent Minus 1, Paul and Julia Aisher
J/105, Diablo-J, Nick Martin
J/109, Zelda, Ben Richards and Michael Ewart-Smith
Sigma 33, Cerefe, Richard and Valerie Griffith
Sigma 38, Festina Lente, Meakins family