Saturday [9th Dec] saw the final round of the Sea Ventures Super Series, points were tight on the overall leader board between three of the top Sun Fast 3300 teams: Kestrel, GameOn and Fastrak. With a very lively WSW/Westerly wind and heavy rain forecast, starting and racing in Southampton Water (Close to Hamble) wasn’t favourable, so the early decision was taken on Friday to start teams on the Island Sailing Club line off Cowes.
The forecast earlier in the week putting off many competitors – on Saturday it was down to the duo of Kestrel and Fastrak who would battle it out in a ‘Match Race’ to determine the Round 4 winner and points towards the overall series title.
Race 1 got underway at 11:00 with the two boats heading Westward from the ISC line beating into a muscular 25-30kts to ’The Boss’ [Just West of Lepe Spit] before hoisting asymmetric sails and a dead run leg to West Ryde Middle – PRO Rich Palmer and his team working hard to get a square leg with the strong ebbing tide. Once back into the central/Eastern Solent both teams showing good crew work albeit shorthanded [three onboard] In the conditions.
By the third mark Hamble Yacht Services both teams were blast reaching in the condition too tight for a spinnaker and a challenging call to get Code sails set. A short kite leg from Northeast Ryde Middle to the bottom Mark of ‘Browndown’ saw Fastrak increase their established lead.
As both boats turned back west with a strong ebb tide underneath them, the wind over tide conditions heaped up the Solent providing an uncomfortable racetrack, Kestrel had started to find her stride upwind and noticeably reduced the deficit to Fastrak however it wasn’t enough to beat them to the finish line off Cowes.
Fastrak crossing the line 11m42s ahead of Kestrel, no corrected time calculations needed with both boats racing level rated.
With a crew injury onboard Kestrel sustained in Race 1 they decided to retire from Race 2 and in turn handing the Race 2 win and the Round 4 title to James Harayda onboard Fastrak.
Round 4, Hamble Results
1st – Fastrak XII, SF3300, James Harayda – 3 Points
2nd – Kestrel, SF3300, Simon Bamford – 11 Points
Having missed Round 2 – Lymington of the Super Series – Fastrak was carrying a heavy 18-point penalty and so even winning the last Round – Hamble. she finished up in 2nd with 29 points. The Sea Ventures Super Series Overall Winner title was awarded to Simon Bamford onboard Kestrel with 22.5 point having competed in all but the last race.
On winning the Series Simon Bamford remarked: “The Super Series was a welcome extension to the season for Kestrel. We enjoyed the opportunity to race three-up instead of the usual double-handed, so introducing new people to the boat. The racing was competitive and fun. The use of the MarkSetBot at starts and finishes allowed prompt and accurate line setting from the Race Management team which was very much appreciated in the chilly weather!”
Special mention should go to the Double Handed team onboard GameOn who were the only team to compete doublehanded for the whole series and finished in a very respectable 3rd place with 31 points.
Overall Results – Top 3
1st – Kestrel, Sun Fast 3300 – Simon Bamford – 22.5 Points
2nd – Fastrak XII Sun Fast 3300 – James Harayda – 29 Points
3rd – GameOn Sun Fast 3300 – Ian Hoddle – 31 Points
On completion of the Series, Charles Darbyshire, Managing Director of FourthCape the operators of the Super Series commented: “With the 2023 Sea Ventures Super Series Test Event now complete, our thoughts and planning will turn to the 2024 season and see how we can best utilise this format. We have had a lot of great feedback from the sailors about all aspects of the format and from the Test Event have honed onto what really makes this shorthanded format special and really work, we look forward to opening up the format to a wider audience and not just the select few that were chosen for the Test Event – Watch this space for 2024 news!”
