Garmin Hamble Winter Series 2016

[flaming]

So with 2 races left to sail where's it going down to the wire?

IRC1 is done, Nifty have won that and it would take a lot for the top 3 to change order at all. OMG have a mathematical chance of taking 3rd overall, but it would require a lot to go in their favour.
IRC2 is between us and Jiraffe, with Malice confirmed in 3rd.
IRC3 It's Upstart's to lose, with SJ having a chance to pip them only if both races are sailed, and even then you'd call the chance "mathematical" rather than realistic as they'll need boats between them and Upstart.
IRC4 Whooper have that sewn up, but 2-5 is very close.
J/88 looks like JDream have that just about sewn up, but there is a slim chance they can be beaten.

 

[MissFitz]

Yes, well, we're not taking anything for granted in IRC3. SJ suddenly seem to have hit amazing form, finding it very difficult to get away from them. Don't actually think we want one of the last two races to be cancelled, as then we wouldn't be able to discard our fifth. Looks like it could be very breezy this Sunday - does racing ever get called off if there's too much wind?

 

[flaming]

Yes, well, we're not taking anything for granted in IRC3. SJ suddenly seem to have hit amazing form, finding it very difficult to get away from them. Don't actually think we want one of the last two races to be cancelled, as then we wouldn't be able to discard our fifth. Looks like it could be very breezy this Sunday - does racing ever get called off if there's too much wind?

Well you're already discarding your 5th. If only one more race is sailed the worst you could do is have to count your 4 and go to 16.5. In that case the best SJ could do would be to win the race, which takes them to 17, so either race cancelled and you've won it regardless.
If both races are sailed there is another discard, (total 3) so the worst you could do is sail 2 races 4 or worse and discard them and your current 5 and count the 4. Taking you to 16.5 again. SJ though could win both races and discard their 4 plus their current 2 discards, dropping their score by 2 points to 14. So if both races are sailed it's still not decided.

And yes, it does look breezy. Frequently does get cancelled in fact this year has been very unusual that we haven't lost a day yet, and only lost the one race to light winds on the first weekend. I remember a year where we only sailed about half the weekends.

 

[MissFitz]

Damn, I had a feeling I was getting that wrong but couldn't get the results page to work this morning to check it! Good to know that we're on for a win if there's a cancellation, though, given the forecast. What sort of wind speeds does it usually take for racing to be called off?

 

[flaming]

Damn, I had a feeling I was getting that wrong but couldn't get the results page to work this morning to check it! Good to know that we're on for a win if there's a cancellation, though, given the forecast. What sort of wind speeds does it usually take for racing to be called off?

If the wind starts with a 2 it's normally fine. If it's over 30 they start worrying about anchoring the committee boat, which is fair enough.

The only thing that ever annoys me is that they do like to have a look in the morning, even when the forecast is pretty clear the night before it isn't going to work. Which means our London contingent are already on the road when they do cancel.

 

[TallBuoy]

If the wind starts with a 2 it's normally fine. If it's over 30 they start worrying about anchoring the committee boat, which is fair enough.

The only thing that ever annoys me is that they do like to have a look in the morning, even when the forecast is pretty clear the night before it isn't going to work. Which means our London contingent are already on the road when they do cancel.

I have the same problem. If the forecast is clearly a non-starter I will cancel the night before, partly to save all the volunteers getting out of bed!

However, if its uncertain I wait until the morning, on the basis I'd rather irritate the minority that have to travel any distance, than all the locals when I've canned it early and could have raced after all.

It's even more frustrating when there is no wind and everybody gets out there, drift around under AP, then all come back in again!

The PROs job is not always sunshine and bacon butties!

 

[awol]

So, was there racing at the weekend or did you all wimp out?

 

[flaming]

So, was there racing at the weekend or did you all wimp out?

There was racing! On the way out we were talking about whether or not we would hoist the small kite, but by the time we got to the first mark it was clear we needed the big one.

We got to have a lot of fun match racing the only boat that could beat us in the series, and it was all going very well until they just squeezed inside us at a leeward mark then extended up the next beat in a dropping wind. Thankfully they decided not to hold the kite on the close reach, whilst we made it work and took a lot of distance out of them, and we finished close enough to them to beat them by 9s on corrected time. Far too close for comfort, but that's the series wrapped up.

 

[awol]

Well done! Who gets the pickle dish?

 

[TallBuoy]

There was racing! On the way out we were talking about whether or not we would hoist the small kite, but by the time we got to the first mark it was clear we needed the big one.

We got to have a lot of fun match racing the only boat that could beat us in the series, and it was all going very well until they just squeezed inside us at a leeward mark then extended up the next beat in a dropping wind. Thankfully they decided not to hold the kite on the close reach, whilst we made it work and took a lot of distance out of them, and we finished close enough to them to beat them by 9s on corrected time. Far too close for comfort, but that's the series wrapped up.

Excellent! Just goes to prove that every second counts.

We AP'd ashore until I was confident the wind was abating enough to take the committee boat out. We ended up going into the sequence only 20 minutes late.

Only the boats who were contending the podium positions bothered to come out, and there were some interesting results. The closest was the ever competitive Folkboat fleet which was decided on a count back.

Lymington Town SC started the first autumn series in the Solent in 1972 and I am told up to 150 boats would take part. Some years later, the Hamble and Cowes contingent decided it was better to have their own series closer to home and your Hamble Winter Series was born. This is currently very poignant in that it was Hugh Carter who masterminded the original series and he was sadly lost to the sea 2 weeks ago. He was returning to his boat at Keyhaven but didn't make it and only his tender and cap have been found despite extensive searches by all SAR services.

RIP Hugh and thank you for what your created.

 

[MissFitz]

Far too close for comfort, but that's the series wrapped up.

Fantastic, congratulations! Unfortunately not such a good week for us, several mistakes of which the biggest was going with the number three for the very long (& perishing cold) first beat. But it was still blowing steadily over 20kt until the start, so it seemed the right call at the time.

By my, almost certainly wrong, calculations that means we win the series unless SJ win the last race AND we are fourth or worse. Is that right?

 

[TallBuoy]

By my, almost certainly wrong, calculations that means we win the series unless SJ win the last race AND we are fourth or worse. Is that right?

Pardon me being nosey! if SJ come 1st 2nd or 3rd they will discard their 4th from race 7 and end up on 16 17 or 18 Nett. If they are 4th or worse they will stay on 19.

Similarly if you come 1st 2nd or 3rd you will discard your Race 6 4th and end up 13.5 14.5 or 15.5. If you are 4th or worse you will stay on 16.5

So yes your calculations are correct! To use flamingos tactics, just don't let them win!

 

[flaming]

Fantastic, congratulations! Unfortunately not such a good week for us, several mistakes of which the biggest was going with the number three for the very long (& perishing cold) first beat. But it was still blowing steadily over 20kt until the start, so it seemed the right call at the time.

By my, almost certainly wrong, calculations that means we win the series unless SJ win the last race AND we are fourth or worse. Is that right?

Yes. Your worst possible score is what you have now. The only way SJ can get under that score is to win the race and discard their 4th, putting them on 16. So in order for them to win you cannot improve your score (by finishing 3rd or better) and they must win. Of purely academic interest, a shared win would not be enough for them, even if you didn't improve, as you'd be on equal points but you've won more races.
I wonder if they regret not coming out for the first race!

 

[MissFitz]

I wonder if they regret not coming out for the first race!

Probably not as much as we regret the fact that the second race that day was cancelled!

 

[TallBuoy]

This thread reminds me of a cliquey yacht club .... and why I don't want to belong to one.

 

[flaming]

This thread reminds me of a cliquey yacht club .... and why I don't want to belong to one.

Well I don't belong to any yacht clubs, and have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[bdh198]

This thread reminds me of a cliquey yacht club .... and why I don't want to belong to one.

I don't belong to any yacht clubs either, but I did take part in the Hamble Winter Series this year (in IRC 1) and have enjoyed looked at this thread to see other people's experience of it.

I'm afraid I haven't post anything earlier as I'm fairly new to the racing scene and still learning how it all works.

Slightly disappointed that the official website hasn't had any photos uploaded since the Big Boat weekend in October despite there having been a photographer getting in everyone's way the last three weekends!

 

[flaming]

Slightly disappointed that the official website hasn't had any photos uploaded since the Big Boat weekend in October despite there having been a photographer getting in everyone's way the last three weekends!

http://pwpictures.com/
http://www.yacht-photos.co.uk/

 

[bdh198]

http://pwpictures.com/
http://www.yacht-photos.co.uk/

Thanks Flaming, that exactly what I was looking for!

 

[Mark Taylor]

I always thought that someone entering a race had to be a member of a club or alternatively their national authority (eg RYA).....is that no longer the case?

I have copied below the extract from the 2013-2016 Racing Rules, which I think apply to the Hamble Series?

75.1 To enter a race, a boat shall comply with the requirements of the
organizing authority of the race. She shall be entered by
(a) a member of a club or other organisation affiliated to an ISAF
member national authority,
(b) such a club or organisation, or
(c) a member of an ISAF member national authority.