Haven Series Races 6, 7 and 8

Fatjax does it again!

Twenty four boats motored to the start line on Saturday in a light south, south easterly breeze. After a short delay it was a windward start to Stone banks. Fred Gooderham's Silver Gull and the Fullers White Lightning led out of the harbour, White Lightning was the first to reach Stone banks. The three Contessa 33's were lead by Des Cowan's Eclipse. In class one Fatjax opened up a considerable lead from the rest of the fleet, finally catching White Lightning on the last run to the finish at Pye End.

Race 7 and another good course set by the race officer. A windward start from Pye End to Stone banks was followed by a reach to Outer Ridge, then a beat to Armada. After a great race 6 where they came second New Tricks, C Dawson and B Stone's Melges 24 continued their good form in Race 7 coming third in class one. Race 7 finished with a run back to the finish line in the harbour.

There were ideal sailing conditions for race 8 on Sunday. The boats started in the harbour with the first leg to windward to Fox's buoy. White Lightning was over the line and had to go back. Spirit of Defiance took an early lead tacking towards the breakwater. After heading out towards the channel, Rainbow however came out first in class two once at Fox's. Then it was a spinnaker leg to outer Ridge, followed by a windward leg to Armada. Rainbow held onto the lead, closely followed by Eclipse. However the faster class one boats were catching, Fatjax took the lead just before Cork Ledge. Des Cowan's Eclipse managed to gain an inside overlap on Rainbow on the gybe at Cork Ledge. Simon Garner in the Trapper ts250 Bushwakka was enjoying a good race. After a tight reach to Pye End, and a last windward leg to Penny Hole it was a run to the finish. Three great races with excellent courses made for an enjoyable weekend of sailing.

With one more weekend to go it looks like Ian Kirkpatrick in Fatjax with 7 firsts cannot be beaten. In class 2 rainbow has 5 firsts, but second place will be hotly contested between Eclipse and Artic Monkey. In class one second place is still up for grabs between Suds, Blue Beeste and Bigwig 2.

Results:

Race 6

IRC Class 1
1st Fatjax, I Kirkpatrick
2nd New Tricks, C Dawson/B Stone
3rd Bigwig, J&J Harding
4th Blue Beeste, M Jenkins & C Penfold
5th Ickle Jura, K Moll

IRC Class 2
1st White Lightning, M&N Fuller I Theobald
2nd Eclipse, D Cowan
3rd Spirit of Defiance, G Parker T Blake W Stephens
4th Artic Monkey, R Leggett
5th Rainbow, J Hale & R Farrance

Race 7

IRC Class 1
1st Fatjax, I Kirkpatrick
2nd Blue Beeste, M Jenkins & C Penfold
3rd New Tricks, C Dawson/B Stone
4th Ickle Jura, K Moll
5th Suds, G Bullard

IRC Class 2
1st Rainbow, J Hale & R Farrance
2nd Eclipse, D Cowan
3rd Artic Monkey, R Leggett
4th White Lightning, M&N Fuller I Theobald
5th Spirit of Defiance, G Parker T Blake W Stephens

Race 8

IRC Class 1
1st Fatjax I Kirkpatrick
2nd Bigwig J&J Harding
3rd Suds G Bullard
4th Ickle Jura K Moll
5th Blue Beeste M Jenkins & C Penfold

IRC Class 2
1st Rainbow, J Hale & R Farrance
2nd Eclipse, D Cowan
3rd Bushwakka, S Garner
4th Artic Monkey, R Leggett
5th White Lightning, M&N Fuller I Theobald

Full results go to www.havenseries.org