Frostbite Series 8 – 13th February 2022
Another windy morning, blowing about 20 mph from the South with stronger gusts up to 30-35 mph. Rick set the first mark as A (just past Tektona), then 1, 2, 4, 8, 6, 7 and back through the start.
There were eight takers this week, but most of them took some precaution against the tricky conditions. Darren opted for a radial rig but was sailing to the full rig handicap. Chris H used his small sail on the Comet and Roland and Paul W used reefed sails. Chris Kilshaw was the only full rig Laser out today.
Before the race got underway the Scottish SB of Stewart and Scott had to retrieve the other SB from the bushes as a certain person (Jolly Sailor – best time to have a pseudonym) had not hitched it securely. Still the Scots have a lot of practice at rescuing lost causes (that’s blown the holiday at Dumfries again!).
Rick kindly fetched a chair for Hadey (still on crutches poor soul) so that she could sit down to record race positions.
Pursuit Race
At the end of the first lap Ron/Mirror was still leading and Darren/Laser was 2nd having caught Roland/Solo. Chris H/Comet was in 4th place ahead of Chris K/Laser, who had capsized rounding 6. Mike T & Alessandro/470 who were last to start were up to 6th and Paul W/Morbic was 7th. Mike C came to grief rounding No 4 and came in to retire.
On the second lap, Chris K capsized again, also when rounding No 4, but unfortunately found himself on the wrong side of the buoy line and had to sail all the way down to the gap past No 6!
At the 35 minute gun, the order was -1st Darren; 2nd Roland; 3rd Mike T & Alessandro; 4th Ron; 5th Chris H; 6th Paul W.
Handicap Race
After a short break to give Chris H time to finish his elevenses, everyone got underway.
Not for long as Chris K went over about 5 seconds after starting, but undeterred he quickly got going again. Mike T & Alessandro were going well in the 470 and came though the line over a minute ahead of Darren in 2nd place. Chris K had recovered to 3rd place crossing the line just 10 seconds in front of Roland. Two minutes later Ron crossed in 5th with Chris H 30 seconds behind him and Paul W another 4 minutes later.
At the end of the second lap Mike T & Alessandro were still leading from Darren. Chris K came round 6 in 3rd place, but then had a mishap rounding 7, appeared to fall backwards and entertained the geese with a few choice words that they may not have heard before! This gave Roland the chance to cross the line in 3rd place. Meanwhile Ron was taking a breather by the buoy line and dropping his sail to test his uphaul and letting Chris H sneak past him. Paul W was still going and at one point even seemed to have his Morbic on the plane. Chris H, Ron and Paul were relieved of further travail after two laps.
No change in the order on the last lap with Mike T & Alessandro finishing in 1st place some 4 minutes ahead of Darren, who in turn was about two minutes ahead of Roland in 3rd place.
The order on the water was – 1st Mike & Alessandro; 2nd Darren; 3rd Roland, then one lap down 4th Chris H; 5th Ron; 6th Paul W and Chris K retired.
On corrected time this becomes –
1st Darren; 2nd Mike & Alessandro; 3rd Roland; 4th Ron; 5th Chris H; 6th Paul W
Thanks to SOOD Rick Lindsley and the race team of Alistair Scott, Chris Howie, Hadey Lines; Ian Stewart and Mike Arnott.