Last race of Garmin Hamble Winter Series for J/109 fleet

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Last race of Garmin Hamble Winter Series for J/109 fleet

The final race of Garmin Hamble Winter Series took place on Sunday 30 November 2008 and winter had certainly arrived with 15-20 knots from the North-East. The PRO made the decision that there would only be one race for the J/109 fleet. A longer course was set taking the fleet back and forward across the Solent from Hillhead Plateau to Ryde Bank. First off the line was Aria (Luca Rubinelli) who was uncatchable for the rest of the race, despite Firestorm (Jon Perry) hot on her heels. Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood) and J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) both had disastrous starts and spent the first beat trying to catch the fleet.

At the first windward mark, Beth (Guy Knight/Five Star Sailing) rounded behind the leaders and Shiva (Matthew Boyle) was in fourth. These places were held for the run. Heading back upwind, J-Dream and Johnny Blue II had moved up to the middle of the fleet and on the second downwind leg moved into 3rd and 4th respectively. A further beat, saw J2EAU (Steve & Jody Maine) edge ahead of Offbeat (David McLeman) who they finally beat by 6 seconds. The final run saw J-Dream edge ahead of Shiva only to lose out at the leeward mark, allowing Johnny Blue II to close the distance on Aria and to finish in second place, 18 seconds ahead of Firestorm.

Meanwhile the battle for 4th place between Shiva, J-Dream and Beth had intensified, with each J/109 holding the position at some point on the beat to the finish. Shiva was victorious by 6 seconds from J-Dream who in turn was only 2 seconds clear of Beth. The J/109 fleet must surely be the closest one-design yacht racing fleet in the UK.

Race 9

1st - Aria (Luca Rubinelli)

2nd - Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood)

3rd - Firestorm (Jon Perry)

The weather during this Garmin Hamble Winter Series has been very frustrating to all. It is the first time that three weekends have been lost due to too much wind and no races due to any wind. The J/109 fleet had 23 entries for the series and with 7 out of 9 races to count, consistency was key. J-Dream was victorious in her first J/109 Garmin Hamble Winter Series with a weekend to spare, from current UK National Champions Johnny Blue II. Victory in the final race moved Aria into third position. The J/109 fleet enjoyed the prizegiving at Hamble River Sailing Club on Saturday 6 December and is delighted that Garmin will be the title sponsor in 2009.

Overall results:

1st J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) - 15 points

2nd Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood) - 27 points

3rd Aria (Luca Rubinelli) - 35 points

4th Beth (Guy Knight/Five Star Sailing) - 37 points

5th Firestorm (Jon Perry) - 46 points

Thanks to J/109 Association and Kirsty Apthorp