Another day of varied racing conditions on the fifth weekend of the Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series saw a light and hazy day for crews, but certainly not lazy. A sunny spring day, 10 knots of SE breeze, swinging right to SW and increasing a couple of knots was the forecast, and as the committee boats arrived on station SE with up to 10 knots of breeze was what they found. On the inshore White Group line, IRC4 was sent away cleanly to their first windward mark, however the J/70 start was a much more eager affair and with the fleet firmly over the line on the gun, a general recall ensued. To persuade the fleet there were other places to start rather than the inshore less-tide pin, race officer Peter Knight put more bias into the line and got the fleets away for an hour of close racing, with the numerous J/70 fleet in particular enjoying exciting times through the leeward gate. During the second race, however the wind hesitated, so due to the dying wind, the decision was taken to shorten the course, and the fleets were shortened to 2 or 1.5 laps, but still got a finish. When the breeze did fill in again it had moved to a SW sea breeze of 12-15 knots, the committee boat moved inshore to start race 3. Again, the J/70s were over eager and had to be recalled, but the use of the black flag installed discipline, and they restarted ok. Offbeat (J/70 David McLeman) led the J/70 fleet. As a result, the White Championship J/70 fleet has Simon Ling’s TEAM RAF SPITFIRE in first with 8 points; Marshall King & Ian Wilson’s SOAK RACING in second with 12 points; and Jonathan Calascione’s CALYPSO in third with 17 points. For the White Group J/70 fleet spring series, after 12 races, it’s David Mcleman’s OFFBEAT leading with 73 points; Patrick Liardet’s COSMIC sits second with 76 points; and third is Marshall King & Ian Wilson’s SOAK RACING with 88 points. For more HELLY HANSEN Warsash Spring Series information, visit http://warsashspringseries.org.uk/2017/index.htm.