Frostbite 5 Race 7th January 2018
It was really windy this morning with a cold East wind about 15 mph, but with stronger gusts of 30 mph coming through. James used an Island start with a first beat to X (up towards the clubhouse), then 5, 8, 4, 3, 2 and back through the start.
There were 14 starters, but only 8 finishers and nearly everyone capsized, most more than once!
Steve S (Aero 7) was the first to go in at the jybe round No 3 on the first lap and it was clearly going to be a bit of a survival race.
Newton (Solo) was first back through the line followed by Jon (Laser) then Nev & Mike (Leader), Franz (Laser) and Hadey (4.7). Dean & Nick (Vago) were next across the line in 6th place some 40 seconds ahead of Gareth (Laser), William (Radial) and Ellen (Laser). Then there was quite a gap back to a recovering Steve S who came through in 10th place with Chris H (Comet) not far behind him.
Rick (Laser) came through 6 minutes later, so he had obviously had a torrid time on the first lap, but perhaps not quite as bad as Mark B (Laser) and Hugh (Laser) who retired before completing the lap.
On the second lap, Newton and Jon both went over when they needed to jybe in the middle of an almighty gust that had already taken out several others behind them! Nev & Mike and Ellen retired on this lap and Hadey moved up from 5th place to cross the line in the lead just ahead of Franz. Jon had got going again to come through in 3rd spot with Steve up six places to 4th. Gareth had managed to pass Dean & Nick to move up to 5th place. A partially recovered Newton) was next across the line in 7th place. Chris H had gained three places by passing William and the retirees and Rick brought up the rear, but he had recovered two minutes.
On the third lap Newton went in again and decided to retire as he could no longer feel his hands!
Hadey was still in the lead, but Jon had regained 2nd place by passing Franz. There was no change in the 4th, 5th and 6th places, but William gained two places due to Newton’s retirement and repassing Chris. Rick was still going in 9th place and had made up another minute on the boats ahead of him as he received the finish gun at the end of the lap.
On the fourth lap and last lap Hadey maintained her lead to cross the line in 1st place, but Jon retired after further capsizes letting Steve, who had already passed Franz, up to 2nd. Gareth had also got past Franz to take 3rd spot, but there were no further changes in position.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Hadey; 2nd Steve; 3rd Gareth; 4th Franz; 5th Dean & Nick; 6th William; 7th Chris and 8th Rick
On handicap Hadey in her 4.7 (good choice of sail today) will obviously take the overall victory, but Gareth will leapfrog Steve to take 2nd place with Steve 3rd, Franz still 4th, with Chris H moving up to 5th and Dean & Nick down to 6th spot.
Thanks to James and the OOD Team of Sophie F, Stewart H, Paul H and Bea and Rhys P, who had a very busy morning.
Well done to all the competitors for braving the challenging conditions.