Hamble Classics – flying high at the RAF Yacht Club

Report by Jonty Sherwill, Photos by Rick Tomlinson.

The fourth Hamble Classics Regatta hosted this year by the Royal Air Force Yacht Club (20-22 September) was another major success with 68 entries across 10 classes and for the first time extended to three days to launch ‘Big Classic Friday’, with extra racing for the larger yachts.

Lutine of Helford, a bermudan yawl which used to be owned by Lloyds

Richard Hargreaves’ Aeolus is a glassfibre 30SqM built in 1989 – she won the IRC One Class

Thalia was built in 1889 by Wnahills of Poole

With continued support from Spinlock, Performance Rigging, Classic Marine, the Sandeman Yacht Company, Ratsey & Lapthorn Sailmakers, The Elephant Boatyard, A-Plan Marine Insurance and Joseph Perrier Champagne, this year OneSails GBR and Blakes & Taylors were also welcomed to the Hamble Classics Regatta.

The entry list of 68 included 23 yachts new to the event and as usual some yachts cruised to the Hamble from outside the Solent, although one that was heading out from Poole on Friday morning decided that the building south-easterly breeze would be a bit too much of a test for this cherished possession. Full list of entries: HERE

From Miles Atherton’s 16 foot gaffer Mouse up to Irvine Laidlaw’s 52 foot Oui Fling the Hamble Classics fleet was as diverse as ever, and maintaining the strong traditional flavour of the event the big gaffers Jolie Brise and Thalia thundered round the course on Saturday and were joined by Aeolus and Peggy Bawn on Sunday in the gentler conditions.

With a packed social programme starting with tea and home made cakes on Friday afternoon laid on by the lady members of the RAFYC and others, the Welcome Reception in the evening included the prize giving for the ‘Big Classic Friday’ racing sponsored by OneSails GBR, and the boisterous conditions in the Solent on Friday had ensured exciting racing for the Spirit Yachts in the IRC Zero class and thelarger classics in the IRC1 class.

Whooper is a Laurent Giles design from 1939

Close quarters!

Jolie Brise looking strong

With more wind than forecast, up to 25 knots, the big waves andclear visibility were perfect for the event’s official photographer RickTomlinson to get some great images.

PrincipalRace Officer Peter Bateson set courses from Quinnell buoy forFriday’s racing but was further east on Saturday for the whole Red Line fleet,while the Green Line for thesmaller boats under the direction of StephenParry was near the race buoy named after a much-missed sailor, JohnFisher.

After a bumpy ride round the course on Saturday, the gentle flood tide delivered the small boat fleet in a lighter breeze up the river to finish off Hamble River Sailing Club, and despite a few gear breakages all the yacht crews and the race teams arrived back at the RAFYC lawn for the ever-popular Elephant Boatyard rum party with broad smiles after an exciting day. Prizes by Spinlock were awarded for the best performances of the day in each class.

Oui Fling is a Spirit 52 designed and built in Ipswich

‘Big Classic Friday’ action – Daniel and Suzie Anthony’s Dido, IRC Zero class winners

Jonathan Dyke sailed Cereste from Suffolk to race in the Solent

At the Hamble Classics Dinner in the evening, supported by Joseph Perrier champagne, where over 200 guests enjoyed excellent food, David Aisher and Bill Blain were invited to give their contrasting accounts about sailing aboard David’s ‘Thalia’, with Bill’s typically irreverent humour seeming to resonate with a majority of the audience! The evening continued with another addition to the Hamble Classics programme, a live band and dancing.

IRC Zero Class winners – Daniel and Suzie Anthony’s Spirit Dido with crew and Peter Kay (centre) of OneSails GBR, the Race Day Sponsor

Spinlock Race Day prize winners on Saturday with their Deckvest and Deckpack prizes

Fun and good weather at the RAFYC for the Elephant Boatyard rum party

On Sunday morning after an early rain squall the wind eased to a near flat calm, but at midday a new breeze from the south arrived to conclude the closely contested points series before tea and prizes back at the club.

Over a weekend of contrasting conditions Oui Fling helmed by her owner Irvine Laidlaw repeated last year’s first place in IRC Zero, Richard Hargreaves’ 30-Square Metre Aeolus dominated in IRC1, in IRC2 George Beevor’s Sagitta 35 Ugly Duckling of Hamble matched her win in Regatta Class last year but only beating Bruce Thorogood’s Mabel on tie-break, as did the magnificent Jolie Brise (skipper Toby Marris) ahead of David Aisher’s Thalia in the Gaffer 1 class. In the Regatta 1 class an event newcomer James Shepherd took first place overall in his Contessa 32 Lauran, again by tie-break from Chris Mansfield’s Nic’ 35 Samiotissa with Nicola Simper’s S&S 34 Blueberry close behind.

In the Green Line fleet Gary and Claire Rossall sailing Little X won again in the XOD class from Mos Fitzgerald in Kathleen, AdrianGreen in Aurora won the Dragon class from Tim Street in Tschuss, and BenClothier in the varnished Battlecry (see main photo, top) won the 6-Metre class from David Roberts’ classic Melita skippered by John Mellows.

Paul Spooner in his gaff yawl Snippet won the Gaffer 2 class from David and Sue Pennison in Satellite and in the Regatta 2 class swelled by the open dayboats Intombi (Neil Martin) and Cockleshell sailed by Jonty Sherwill, Vicki Weston and Gordon Bonney, the winner was Kim Morleys Nordic Folkboat Valhalla on a tie-break from Cockleshell. The Harrison-Butler Sabrina (Craig and Kate Nutter) and Ragdoll (Mark and Liz Rushall) were only two points behind, and sadly a broken gooseneck fitting on the beautiful Fife 24 Intombi on Saturday ruled out an even more competitive final race.

At the main prize giving on Sunday afternoon the organising team members, the 25-strong race team and other volunteers, and the RAFYC staff were all thanked for their efforts, as was the Hamble River Sailing Club for its support with a RIB and buoys, before the class winners and runners up received their race prizes and the special trophies awarded, the Tea-for-Two trophy to Mouse, Norlethe trophy to John Best – the RAFYC Rear-Commodore Sailing, and the Kismet trophy for most fun crew to Whisper of Lymington.

Mike Pammenter, skipper of Irvine Laidlaw’s Oui Fling with his daughter Charlotte collects first prize for the IRC Zero class and his Spinlock Deckvest prize for the best IRC Zero performance in the Saturday racing.

Richard and Ben Clothier receive the Concours d’Elegance top award sponsored by A-Plan Marine Insurance from Vicki Weston, co-founder of Hamble Classics

John Best, RAFYC Rear-Commodore Sailing, is presented with Hamble Classics Norlethe Trophy for his outstanding contribution to the event by Marilyn Oliver, wife of RAFYC Commodore Paul Oliver, and Vicki Weston, co-founder of Hamble Classics.

Ian Ratnage (left) and his crew aboard the Spirit 46 ‘Whisper of Lymington’ display the Hamble Classics Kismet sailing model trophy for most fun crew and the A-Plan Marine Insurance Concours d’Elegance award for best Spirit of Tradition yacht.

Concours d’Elegance – ultimate condition – the top prize
Battlecry – 1988 Ian Howlett designed International 6-Metre – shown top in main photo.
Owner Richard and Ben Clothier

Concours d’Authenticité – condition and originality
Phizz – 1951 Frederick Parker designed Class II Ocean Racer
Owners Peter and Philip Knight-Jones

Best Spirit of Tradition – or New Build
Whisper of Lymington – 2003 Spirit 46 designed by Sean MacMillan
Owner Ian Ratnage

Best presented GRP yacht
Queen Bee – 1969 designed Kim Holman designed Sovereign 35
Owner Peter Charles