HSSC RNSA 2025 Wednesday Night Summer Series Race 7 Results
Published 08:59 on 12 Jul 2025
Wednesday 9th July 2025
By Simon Shillaker:
Searching for a Windward leg, the battle in the Bay.
The Wednesday Evening Fleet arrived at Gilkicker point to find another beautiful sunny evening awaiting with a fast-running flood tide on Springs and the breeze at 220 degrees, around 10 knots. With wind forecast to drop and shift to the West, Jambo as SOOD opted for a tight inshore course for the fleet.
The usual conundrums on where to start on the line against the tide were complicated by the wind angle, with Jetpack, Sunshine and Jambo starting mid line making the best of the short leg to Warsash Sailing Club buoy ahead of the fleet starting nearer the shore. With the tide under their bows Browndown was a fetch as Sunshine defended her lane closely from the pursuing Jetpack.
At the mark Sunshine rounded first and opted for a bear away set, Jetpack followed, choosing a gybe set to head to Stokes Bay Central. Challenger, still in hot pursuit, was now sporting her shiny new spinnaker pole having shortened her carbon pole somewhat whilst racing in 30knots of breeze the previous weekend.
With the tide rushing East, Stokes Bay Central arrived quickly and as the breeze dropped some of the fleet needed a deep bear away to avoid being swept onwards.
Sunshine was clear ahead at this mark, but Jambo manage a tighter rounding to pull out from Jetpack, the effect of racing fully kitted out for offshore in the now 5 knots and less wind range starting to show.
Back upwind for IRC fleet with the lead yachts sneaking around Browndown for the second time before the big right shift finally produced the elusive Windward leg for the chasing pack.
The effect of shortening the YTC course, removing the second upwind mark rounding, resulted in both fleets racing together downwind towards the finish. Sunshine fancied further mark rounding practice at Stokes Central and then went on to take Line Honours from Jambo both hotting up after Warsash sailing Club to cross the line directly.
In the closely fought YTC race Line honours for YTC fleet went to Gopher Kicks finishing at the beach end of the line. Lightning and Ursus finishing soon after.
All in all, a very pleasant evening on the water with plenty to discuss over pies and pints in the Clubhouse. Some competitors may have noted a jet ski aground or perhaps even sinking in the harbour entrance which was thankfully later rescued by GAFIRS. With the weather set fair the Wednesday evening fleet can look forward to more Mediterranean conditions next week.
Full results to follow.
Next week's SOOD is Lightning.
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Last updated 08:48 on 18 July 2025