Frostbite Series 3 – 23rd December 2018

The forecast was for a SW wind about 11 mph, but just before the start it was nowhere near that. Fortunately, once all the boats were on the water it did pick up and probably matched the forecast.
Dave P used a flagpole start with a first beat down to 4 then 2, 5, X (near 8 but a little further out), 7 and back through the start.

There were 17 starters with 6 Lasers, 3 Leaders, an Aero, Blaze, Comet, Mirror, Radial, Solo, Vago, 4.7 and a partridge in a pear tree.

First back through the line was guess who? Simon on his bedstead (with his stocking tied on) very closely followed by Steve S in his Aero with a Laser trio led by Ellen then Mike T and Ken not far behind. Dean & Nick (Vago) came through in 6th place, then the Lasers of Ralph and James crossed the line together battling for 7th. Newton (Solo) slipped through in 9th place with Dave & Ann in the first of the Leaders in 10th place followed by Mike C & Sally in the second of the Leaders. Mike A (Radial) was next through being chased by Chris H (Comet), Gareth E (Laser), Rhys (4.7) and Nev & Hugh (Leader) with Ron bringing up the rear in his Mirror.

On the second lap Simon had increased his lead from one second to 30 seconds, but Steve was keeping him honest. Ellen was still 3rd, but Ken, Ralph and Newton all gained a place to move up to 4th, 6th and 8th respectively. James had slipped back to 9th but from 10th place downwards there was no change in the order.

There were only three changes of position during the third lap, Ken moved up another place to 3rd, James regained a place to move to 8th and Nev & Hugh also gained a place.

By the end of the fourth lap Simon had stretched out his lead to a minute and a half, but the only changes in position behind him were Ralph crossing the line just ahead of Mike T to move up to 5th and Ron managing to catch Rhys. At the end of this lap Chris, Gareth, Nev & Hugh, Ron and Rhys all received the finish gun.

At the end of the fifth and last lap Simon’s lead was up to two and a half minutes and the only movers were Nick & Dean who gained a place to cross the line in 6th place.

The final positions on the water were –
1st Simon; 2nd Steve; 3rd Ken; 4th Ellen; 5th Ralph; 6th Dean & Nick

On handicap the first two should keep their places, but it looks as if Ron will move up to 3rd pushing Ken and Ellen down to 4th and 5th with Newton moving up to 6th.

Thanks to Dave P and the OOD Team of Dave I and Nick M.

Merry Christmas to everyone.