Royal Air Force Yacht Club

Chris Aps

My wife, Jan, had saved and bought eight weeks of annual leave, four of which were to cruise the Dutch canals in our Beneteau Antares 9.80, a seaworthy, twin-engine fly bridge cruiser.

We had had the boat from new and she was our first command. Two years’ cruising, the Yachtmaster Coastal Theory and CEVNI were enough stimulus for us to take the plunge and cross the Channel, however daunting that still seemed. Sea Jay is based in Brighton, a mere 50 odd nautical miles to Lymington. Amazingly, it is over 65 miles going the other way to Dover, our cross-channel launching point.

J/109 One Design racing gets closer and closer, as Just So is victorious in Week 4 of the Warsash Spring Series.

The J/109 fleet continued to enjoy close racing during the fourth weekend of the Warsash Spring Series. Once again the wind was light (8-12 knots) although this week it was more settled in direction for most of the race and the sun shone – perfect!

Article from Kirsty Apthorp and J/109 Association

The second race in the Warsash Spring Series was a closely fought event with a number of different leaders and only five minutes separating the first eleven boats, after two hours of racing.  Facing light 6-9knot westerly winds and strong west-going Spring tide, the Race Committee chose to set a predominantly windward-leeward course over Thorn Bank to Bramble.

Article Kirsty Apthorp and the J109 Class Association

Photos Eddie Mays

The first race of the Warsash Spring Series took place on Sunday 13 March.  Rain and light winds (6-8 knots) greeted the competitors as they set off for the start area.  The rain cleared but the wind was shifty and the committee decided to move onto Ryde Bank.  A short postponement to enable all to arrive and racing began with IRC 1.