Although the day started cold and misty, the sun soon came out to shine on the competitors in the last day of the 2010 IRC Solent Series.

It was the Royal Yacht Squadron’s day, and the course from the Squadron line was a classic “Cowes Week” course with a variety of beats, runs and reaches, with the last mark East Lepe. With a strong ebb tide and a light easterly breeze the fleet then spent an interesting half hour tacking along the Island Shore trying to cheat the tide.

It was hard work, and the lighter, higher rating boats certainly benefitted. But progress was made, and it was a delight to cross the finishing line, then pop round the corner and moor in the Squadron marina, then on to the clubhouse for tea and cakes.

As is always the case, the middle classes with the tighter rating bands had the best racing, and going into the race for Class 3, either last year’s winner Xarifa, or Black Diamond could have won the Series, but the short tacking suited the fractional rigged Figaro best, and they came out on top with Hot Rats taking third place.

In Class 4 Crakajax had a good race and retained the Series title from the previous year.

In Class 3 Alaris won the day, but it was the battle of the J109s for the Series prize. High Tension was a late starter to the Series having missed the first two races, but with a fourth place in the last race he clinched the Series on the countback from J2Eau. In Class 1, last year’s runner-up Sabriel took overall victory.

With over 100 boats taking part in one or more of the Series events, this is the best turnout since the IRC Solent Series began in 2006. For more details of the Solent Series see www.solentirc.org.uk 2010 IRC Solent Series Overall.

Class 1: 1st Sabriel (Dirk & Diane Van Beek), 2nd Quokka (Peter Rutter), 3rd Sunshine (Malcolm Roberts).

Class 2: 1st High Tension (Andrew Given), 2nd J2Eau (Steve/Jody Maine), 3rd Kurketrekker (Stephen Parry).

Class 3: 1st Black Diamond (Mark Brown), 2nd Xarifa (Teresa Whelan), 3rd Hot Rats (Robbie & Lis Robinson) Class 4: 1st Crakajax (Ursula Bagnall & Richard Hollis), 2nd Menace (Tim Rees / Derek Morland), 3rd Espada (Louise Morton).

Kathy Smalley