Garmin Hamble Winter Series 2009 commenced on Sunday 4th October.  With two races scheduled, the J/109 fleet enjoyed the first windward/leeward race in sunshine and 12 knots.  Stalker (Steven Tapper) led off the start line before J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) took the lead at the windward mark, a position they held for the rest of the two lap race.  Stalker had a poor first spinnaker hoist, which allowed Aria (Luca Rubinelli) and Jumping Jellyfish (David Richards) through.  Stalker overtook Jumping Jellyfish at the final leeward mark rounding to finish 3rd   Meanwhile the battle for 4th and 5th on the final beat was between Jumping Jellyfish and Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffith), with Jumping Jellyfish claiming 4th by 9 seconds.

The second race started after a short postponement to allow an IRC 2 boat to return to the start line.  The wind was less consistent for the first lap and the PRO challenged the fleet by running a course with starboard roundings, which caught out some.  Red Arrow (RAFSA sponsored by the Benevolent Fund) led the J/109 fleet, but chose breeze rather than tide and had lost out by the windward mark.  Jumping Jellyfish rounded ahead of J-Dream and held the lead on the run, before they encountered the back of IRC2.  Strategic sailing through the symmetrical boats saw J-Dream sneak into the lead by the leeward mark, with Outrajeous rounding in 2nd.  By the windward mark, Outrajeous had edged ahead of J-Dream but they were unable to hold off the challenge on the run.  The longer beat in 14 knots saw Aria move into 3rd to finish less than 20seconds behind Outrajeous.

Overall Results:

1st J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp)  1,1

2nd Aria (Luca Rubinelli) 2,3 

3rd Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffith) 5,2