The racing was for two classes which turned out to be as different as chalk and cheese - 45 footers racing on level terms, and IRC 0 yachts on handicap. The breakdown of the level racing class this year was eight Farr 45s and two DK46s, while the IRC 0 class had an extremely diverse make-up, from a 70 foot 25 ton 12 Metre dating back to the 1987 America's Cup, to a Ker 11.3 via an ultra modern TP52, a Rogers 46, a Beneteau First 44.7, a couple of Farr 40s, a J/133, and a MAT12 - almost a one-of-a-kind regatta, but all the more interesting for that.

The 45' level racing was exactly what it said on the tin - level. No less than six boats (including the two DK46s) won races in the ten race series, and every boat featured in the top 4 places somewhere in the series, so no-one was really outclassed.

It would be nice to be able to say the IRC class was also closely fought, but Jerry Otter's TP52 'Fidessa Fastwave' was so fast the others only saw her at the starts. Even on handicap she never fell below third place, and she was particularly impressive when the wind came up. Big Boat Series regular, Rob Goddard's 'Farrfalina' finished second overall in spite of a collision in Race 8 which put her and the other boat out for the remainder of the series. Third overall was the consistent J/133 'Jammie Dodger' of Neil Martin, and fourth place went to David Aisher's splendid Rogers 36 'Yeoman XXXII'.

In fifth overall was the magnificent 12 Metre 'Italia 7', owned and helmed by Richard Rankin. She was always a wonderful sight, and really came into her own when the wind came up on the penultimate day, taking a first and a second place. It was a pity that Richard had a prior engagement on the final day, when there was even more wind.

Conspicuous for her extravagant paint job and long name was John Stapleton's 'Vespucci's Black Sheep', which achieved sixth overall including a second place in Race 5. Jon Sanders' 'Floating Voter' missed the first five races, but made an impact on the second weekend when she won two races and had a second. -- Peter Danby

Results

Gamin Hamble Big Boat Series, 45' level racing, top five:

1 'Freddie Freeloader' Eamonn O'Nolan & Michelle Brachette, 29pts

2 'Fortis Excel' Agne Nilsson, 33

3 'Exabyte Four' Shaun Frohlich 48

4 'Alice 2' Simon Henning 55

5 'Dark & Steamy' Nick & Annie Haigh 55

Garmin Hamble Big Boat Series, IRC 0 class, top five:

1 'Fidessa Fastwave' Jerry Otter 30pts

2 'Farrfalina' Rob Goddard 41

3 'Jammy Dodger' Neil Martin 46

4 'Yeoman XXXII' David Aisher 52

5 'Italia 7' Richard Rankin 61