The weather on the weekend of 16th-17th March was changeable and also at times very cold.
Travelling to the event on Saturday was challenging enough with strong winds and torrential rain. This eased in time for racing and the Albacores had the addition of a couple of quick National Twelves joining the starts. The breeze was steadily filling in as we tacked down river against the tide towards the windward mark positioned off Hamble Point.
The wooden boats led the way with the battle at the front closely contested between Rob Lyne and Mike Mac followed by Andy Pearce and Ella Mitchell . Ella pulled past Andy before the windward mark and Rob led Mike Mac back up river past the club house to the leeward mark. A second lap followed with Mike Mac in 6493 finally winning the race from Rob in 1781, Ella in 8153 was third and Andy in 7525 finishing fourth. Following lunch a second race started with the wind speed steadily rising. By the windward mark it was becoming challenging but all rounded safely with again the lead being contested between Rob and Mike with Ella third and Andy in fourth. The positions remained unchanged back up the river and continued in this order on the second lap. By this time the gusts were topping 24 knots out at The Point but all were again safely round. Andy had a close call on the gybe on the way back up river but saved it. The finishing order was Rob, Mike, Ella and Andy.
Sunday dawned with cold conditions and snow was reported en route By Matt Thompson who joined the event for day two. After a brief spell at 20 knots the wind dropped to a shifty 5 knots for the start of race three. In spite of a good start Andy was soon back in third place as the boats struggled out against the tide with Mike leading followed by Rob. Matt behind at the start – his excuse – pulled up into third ahead of Andy and Ella was fifth. The positions remained unchanged at the finishing line with the exception that Ella posted a DNF. After lunch there was debate about a fourth race the wind remaining very light and the conditions very cold. We elected to race although Rob decided to settle for second place and did not launch. This left Mike, Matt and Andy to contest one lap and although the racing was close Mike Mac kept the lead from start to finish. Matt in his recently purchased Ovington composite soon pulled away from Andy but was hauled back in again on the reach back down into the river and the two finished in close order Matt in second place just ahead of Andy in third. Mike Mac was again the winner.
There is an unconfirmed rumour that Mike Mac began his racing career on The Hamble!
The results of the two day Albacore event were first Mike Mac (three firsts and a second as a discard) and in second place Rob Lyne (one first and two seconds and the DNS to discard). Andy and Matt were tied on 11 points each, Matt taking third place with the better result in the last race. This was an excellent well-run event with a friendly helpful race team who made us all welcome. The other boats competing were the Firefly, Enterprise and Foxer fleets and on Sunday the Merlins. In all 62 boats braved the conditions for this the 51st Warming Pan event. We all needed a warming pan at the end but regrettably only one was available and presented to the winning Merlin!
Results online here: http://www.halsraceresults.com/crs/crs.aspx?DSKey=957&SeriesKey=106
Pictures of the event are available on the Hamble River SC website.
http://www.hambleriversc.org.uk/galleries/2013-hamble-warming-pan-1/
Andy Pearce