A warm, calm Friday afternoon welcomed the Hamble Classics Regatta fleet (total age 2,600 years!), but Saturday would kick things off with a stiff northeasterly breeze. At the welcome reception, shanty singers from Titchfield set the tone for a jolly weekend, and regatta organisers Jonty and Vicki Sherwill greeted yacht owners, rews and event volunteers, and thanked the co-hosting clubs, the RAFYC and HRSC, and the event sponsors Spinlock, Classic Marine, OneSails, Elephant Boatyard, Salcombe Distilling Company, Z-Spars UK and Walcon Marine.
The wind on Saturday peaked around 20 knots and after two long, enjoyable races in the IRC and two Regatta classes, three races for the XOD class and one for the Gaffers, crews arrived back at the RAFYC more than ready for a glass of Dark'n'Stormy at the…