Discover the Exciting Finale of the Hamble Winter Series Race Week 8 and Overall Results

The exhilarating Race Week 8 of the 2025 Hamble Winter Series was a thrill-packed adventure at sea, featuring high-stakes competition against the backdrop of a stunning wintery day. In tune with the forecast, the day was spectacularly sunny, yet chilly with westerly winds ranging from 9-11 knots.

Under the guidance of the Vice Commodore, James Lutley, and helmed by the ever-reliable Kathryn Clark, the Race Team headed out aboard the CV Pufferfish. Participants took on the ‘round-the-cans’ courses with varying lengths: 10.5 miles for IRC 1, 9.3 miles for IRC 2, and 8.2 miles for IRC 3. The races were mildly curtailed as the breeze diminished during the pre-start period, rendering the courses slightly shorter but no less intense.

An unexpected yet delightful sight was the majestic HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier returning home after a 40,000-mile journey in the Far East. Much like the participating yachts, it too was finishing early for Christmas, bringing an air of solidarity to the whole event.

The most hotly anticipated moment of the week was, of course, the revelation of the overall results. In IRC 3, Protis, Team Hamble, had already bagged the first spot. Banter, piloted by Ian Handley and Tim James, managed a dignified second place. However, the competition was not just on the waters. Alice’s humorous confession about swapping the race with the pub, unless conditions were ‘Peachy’, brought chuckles and light-hearted camaraderie among the competitors.

These personal anecdotes, combined with the thrilling Wind week 8 and the stunning grandeur of the spectacle, elevate the tale of the 2025 Hamble Winter Series to more than just a race. They breathe an air of adventure, camaraderie, and sheer joy of life at sea into the mundane world.