31.7s in the Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Week 6

Race 6 of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series saw six 31.7s competing within IRC4 on a glorious crisp and sunny winter’s day. With a Northerly force 1-2 the entire fleet didn’t dare stray far from the start line at Seascape, and so it proved to be a close start. Assisted by their over eagerness and a following tide, three 31.7s were called OCS. Sonic Boom returned immediately, closely followed by Electra, but no other 31.7 returned to restart.

In oscillating winds the first beat was a close fought affair and it was Tai Pan that rounded Deck first, with Manaru, Kurketrekker and Whistler grouped close behind. It was on this leg that Whistler put on a burst of speed and passed both Manaru and Kurketrekker and started reeling in Tai Pan. After rounding Seascape, there followed a lovely tight spinnaker reach, during which Whistler continued to storm through the 31.7 fleet and rounded Air Canada in first place.

The race committee spotted that the wind was dying and sensibly decided to shorten course at Deck. Whistler and Tai Pan continued to battle it out up the beat, until a 30 degree wind shift left Whistler in an unassailable position enabling them to be the first 31.7 at the finish.

Meanwhile Sonic Boom and Electra had been fighting hard to recover from their start line fun and had made significant gains on the fleet. On the last beat the wind dropped leaving Sonic Boom, with just their #3, dead in the water. Electra, however, found some breeze and worryingly for the remainder of the fleet started to overtake to leeward. They need not have worried though, as the wind filled in again from windward with Kurketrekker finishing second and a dead-heat for third between Tai Pan and Manaru.

Sonic Boom had a bit of a surprise as they approached the finish only to watch the committee boat raise anchor and motor past them. They soon realised their mistake and quickly returned to station at the finish. Unfortunately the wind then completely died causing Sonic Boom to eventually retire. In the clubhouse it turned out that Tai Pan was the third OCS 31.7 – Ouch! Many thanks again to HRSC for another great days winter racing.

Overall Results: