Club Championship at Hamble River Sailing Club
by Jonty Sherwill 1 Oct 2007 13:30 BST
30 September 2007
Ian Southworth has won the inaugural Club Championship at Hamble River Sailing Club © Jonty Sherwill
Southie wins the 2007 HRSC Club Championship
Ian Southworth has won the inaugural Club Championship at Hamble River Sailing Club, a champion of champions event of the club's racing classes. Hosted in XOD's it included the winning helms from the XOD, Squib, Dinghy Handicap, Foxer, Best Junior, the yacht handicap classes, and the best female helm from the 2007 season.
Sailed in a light to moderate south-easterly breeze on Sunday, September 30th there were five 25 minute races with no discards. Club cadet champion James Fryatt won the first race crewed by the XOD Cowes Week winner Simon Russell aboard 'Swallow', and with some consistent sailing they maintained an early points lead.
Fryatt started the final race on level points with Southworth but the reigning J/24 European Champion representing the Foxer class and crewed by Phil Johnston aboard Gerry Goulding's 'Pepper' scored his third win in a row to clinch the championship. Malcolm Donald sailing for Yacht Class 3 and crewed by John Harding aboard 'Calypso' won race 2 and finished 3rd overall ahead of Squib sailor Jane Paull in Jonathan Fairchild's 'Astra'.
After a unexpectedly competitive event in perfect conditions Race Officer Jonty Sherwill commented: "I hope this is the first of an annual club event for HRSC members and everyone is grateful to the XOD owners for supporting it - I hope they will do it again. Getting a bunch of good sailors into a one-design really shows who's who and it was pleasing to see that Southie didn't have it all his own way!"