For detailed reports and full results of this series, please visit;

www.garminhamblewinterseries.co.uk

RACE REPORTS:

Sunday 30th November

After the previous week’s abandonment, the pressure was off for ‘Team Flexer’ this weekend.  If we hadn’t sailed and the nearest competitor had won two races we’d be tied on 17 points but still win on ‘countback’.  So, the team were in good humour as we sailed out to the race course on Sunday despite the ‘baltic’ conditions….  As we finished our quick windward leeward practice sail, news came over the radio that there would only be one race and the series was well and truly sewn up. 

Despite rumblings from the crew about going home for Sunday lunch we pressed on, keen to get another good result and finish on a high note.  We opted for a safe start 3/4 of the way down the line and got away cleanly with good speed and a nice clear lane.  The first beat started in around 20kts of cold northerly wind but we held the number two jib anticipating less breeze as we sailed towards the lee of the mainland.  As expected things got lighter and more shifty towards the windward mark but we rounded well in the first 3 or 4 boats.

The race committee had set a longer than usual course with 4 windward leeward laps rather than the customary 2.  Despite a lot of small oscillations in the wind, there were few significant changes in direction so we didn’t make any major tactical gains.  The X-34 really excelled up wind in this stronger breeze though; at times we were consistently making over 6.5kts to windward in the flatter areas.  We overtook the Pronavia 38 during the third run and made some good gains on the Dehler 36 and Elan 37 upwind, all higher rating boats.  Finishing third over the water, we won the race by nearly 3 minutes corrected.  Discarding a 3rd and an 8th, Flexer wins the 9 race series with just 7 points, the minimum possible score.  

Once again, the X-34 has proven to be an excellent boat for IRC racing.  She is stiff and easy to handle as you would expect from any of the X-Yachts performance cruisers.  She sails very well to her rating in all conditions, increasingly so as the breeze increases.  Thanks to all the crew and to X-Yachts GB for a fun and successful series.

Sunday 23rd November

Races cancelled due to strong wind and poor conditions.

Sunday 16th November

Race 8:
By the start of the second race, the tide had turned on the mainland shore and was gently pushing the fleet over the line.  After 2 general recalls for classes 0 and 1, the race committee moved the pin giving the line almost 10 degrees pin bias for our start.  Luckily, we were one of only 3 boats to spot this so got a great start sailing low and fast out into stronger tide in the channel.  With the tide under us and a bit more apparent wind we were using the flatter number 2 jib all the time now.  Using the settings that we’d worked on over the past few weeks, the crew could easily change gears in the lulls to keep us in the groove over 6 kts and we were sailing just as fast as the bigger boats in the class. 

We rounded the windward mark second and sailed a good run finding a relatively clear path down through the congested race course.  On the second beat we overtook the Corby design ‘No Retreat’, our main competition from the previous week, and managed to hold this position to take line honours.  Another race win for the ‘Flexer’ Team.

Race 7:
The conditions for this Sunday’s racing were excellent.  The weather was mild with WSW 12-16 kts but with strong spring tides to make things interesting.  After a short postponement and one general recall class 2 were sent off.  The committee boat end was slightly biased but we opted for a conservative start a little down the line to get away cleanly.  With good speed upwind and some good work with the shifts we rounded the first mark in the top 3.  We continued to sail a safe race taking care not to separate too far from our main competitors.  Finishing second over the water we won by around 2 minutes corrected.

Sunday 9th November

Races cancelled due to strong wind and poor conditions.

Sunday 26th October

Race 5:

The first race of the day was postponed for an hour due to the weather front passing through with gusts over 30 knots.  The wind soon dropped away averaging 10-12 kts and we started what turned out to be an exciting first race.  The boat performed well and we were able to separate from all but “No Retreat” (A John Corby design with her designer at the helm). We finished second on the water leaving us comfortably first overall on corrected time.

Race 6:

We were spurred on by our success of the first race, but unfortunately made a poor start to the second.  We were forced to take the stern of the fleet and head out to the right. Fortunately the tack away was slightly beneficial and pulled us back into the middle of the fleet. The course was congested for the next round with competitors from the other classes using the same course making passing tricky on the second beat.  We were able to find a few clear lanes though and made the most of the shifty wind. We managed to catch the leaders again, and held on to finish first on handicap in dying breeze.

All in all a good days racing and we are now lying 1st overall.

Sunday 19th September

Race 3:

It was clear from last year's winter series that, whilst a good all-rounder under IRC, the X-34 really excels in wind strengths over 10kts.  So the crew were all feeling positive when they sailed out to the race course in 15-20 kts of wind on Sunday. With some new crew on board, we decided to get out early and practice before the race.  With the eager crew up and ready to go at 8am we made a couple of windward leeward practice legs and were ready to go come the 10am start time.

The wind for the first race was softer than expected so after a bad start, we struggled to get back into the race with the number 2 jib up.   The first beat left something to be desired as we rounded the windward mark well down the fleet.  Our crew kept hard at work though and we were able to find some clear lanes of breeze to get back into the picture.  We went on to round the next mark in 3rd place and were able to hold that place finishing the race in 3rd place; both on the water and overall.

Race 4:

By the time the second race started, the wind had filled in closer to the forecast 20kts.  With the wind direction at around 200degrees though, the breeze was gusty and the competitors were finding conditions testing. In this stronger breeze, the X-34 really started to perform sailing as high and fast as the bigger 37 footers.  We rounded the top mark in 3rd position again. The crew work was good, particularly in the gybes and we sailed slightly hotter angles than the other boats downwind making significant gains. Using our no.2 Genoa in this stronger breeze but set up quite full for the lulls, it was easy to stay in the groove and we sailed away with the two faster leading boats.  Distancing ourselves from the rest of the fleet, we finishing first on handicap.

Very pleasing results for the second weekend’s racing. 

Sunday 12th October

Race 1:

After a moderate start, we sailed Flexer through the light and shifty conditions to finish a mediocre 8th position.  A mildly disappointing, but not devastating, start to this year’s competition. In these light airs, after a bad start, we were never really able to clear our air and get the boat up to speed upwind.  We had encouraging speed downwind though and our motivation was high going into the second race of the day!

Race 2:

With a better start in clear air and some minor adjustments to the rig between races, we were much happier with the X-34’s performance in the light conditions of the second race. We sailed well and went on to pick up a deserved 1st position.  Some consolation for our previous 8th place….