After five weeks of racing in the Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series, the final day’s races on April 23 had to be abandoned due to a lack of wind. Competitors headed out for their start lines in fog with very little wind and little visibility, less than 1/2 mile. The White and Black Group Committees announced a half hour postponement and whilst the fog slowly lifted, revealing a beautiful sunny spring morning, the wind remained elusive. This proved to be the first of several postponements. With less than four knots of wind, both committees and all the competing yachts waited for breeze through the morning. Midday saw the prospects for a sea breeze filling start to look promising, with cloud bubbling up over the Isle of Wight and on the mainland. White Group Race Officer Peter Knight moved the committee boat further inshore in the hopes of picking up some temperature increased airs, but it was not to be, and eventually both committees abandoned racing and sent the fleets in at around 13:00. The final overall positions in the Helly Hansen Warsash Springs are, therefore, the results from the previous weekend’s sailing. The J/70 fleet on the Solent continues to gain in popularity, as the spring series saw over two-dozen boats participating over the 12 race series in six weekends. A newcomer topped the standings this time: David McLeman and his OFFBEAT team managed to post two firsts and two seconds on their way to the class win with 73 points total. Second place was Patrick Liardet, who’s COSMIC crew also posted duel firsts and seconds enroute to 76 points net. Having missed four races, but in between posting five firsts and two seconds in a dozen races, enabled Marshall King & Ian Wilson’s SOAK RACING to snare third on the podium with 88 points net. For more HELLY HANSEN Warsash Spring Series information, visit http://warsashspringseries.org.uk/2017/index.htm.