Royal Air Force Yacht Club

Resounding victory to J/109 Jahmali in 2^nd race of Raymarine Warsash Spring Series.

 With forecasts of light winds, increasing to F4 North-West backing West the second race of the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series was held on Sunday 22 March.  The J/109 Class got underway in a 10 knot breeze which stayed with the fleet for the majority of the 2.5 hour race.

  First to the windward mark was Jahmali (Mike & Sarah Wallis), closely followed by Shiva (Matthew Boyle), Beth of Five Star (Guy Knight) and new to the fleet Jambahla (Richard Sainsbury & Gill Ross).  The laid inflatable leeward mark was most appreciated by Beth of Five Star (Guy Knight) who tried to skewer it with her bowsprit.  Meanwhile Just William (Will Leonard) and J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) had moved up through the fleet and rounded in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively behind Jamahli.  The course then took the J/109 fleet back and forward across the Solent to Ryde Bank but the wind did not shift as anticipated and the downwind legs were reaches causing the J/109 fleet to spread out.  On the penultimate beat to Hamble Yacht Services, J-Dream played the wind shifts and rounded the mark ahead of Just William and set off in pursuit of Jahmali. 

 After the first three boats crossed the finish line there was a lull in the wind which caused Jambahla to be caught by Red Arrow (RAF Sailing Association) and pipped to the line for 7^th place by 37 seconds and Shiva who had fallen back to 8^th after a tactical error on the first run picked off the fleet one by one to finish 4^th.

 With more wind anticipated for next week, the J/109 Class has thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine and light winds which have eased them into the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series 2009.

 Results:

1^st -  Jamahli (Mike & Sarah Wallis)

2^nd - J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp)

3^rd - Just William (Will Leonard)

Kirsty Apthorp J/109 Class Association