Chichester Yacht Club Frozen Toe Series

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Chichester Yacht Club Frozen Toe Series - Day 1

by Meryl Deane 7 Nov 2012 07:18 GMT 4 November 2012

Frozen Toe races 1 and 2 at Chichester © Chris Hodge

Sunday saw the start of the Chichester Yacht Club Open Winter Series with the Frozen Toe Races. The morning brought winds gusting 35 Knots. Race Office Derek Jackman stood by the weather forecast showing the wind dropping throughout the afternoon. However, no one predicted how low the wind would go!

Sticking with the forecast, believing that the wind would drop, the Fleets were held ashore for a 20 minute delay. Race 1 started in a reasonable, but variable breeze. The wind dropped from 17knots to almost nothing during the afternoon.

In the Fast Fleet in Race 1 the RS 400 of Jason & Ryan Buchanan (Dell Quay SC) led the way chased by the RS 400 of Nick & Roger Elliman and the Merlin Rocket of Steve & Sarah Cockerill (Hillhead). Handicap however, won out with Steve & Sarah Cockerill taking first.2nd were Jason & Ryan Buchanan & 3rd Nick & Roger Elliman. The wind died during Race 2, but Steve & Sarah Cockerill were again first with Jeremy & Joanne Deacon (Cookham Reach) second also in a Merlin Rocket.

In the Medium Fleet it was a day for the Solo sailors. Mark Harper (CYC) was chased hard by Malcolm Buchanan from DQSC in the windier Race 1. In the Lasers, Jimmy Carter managed to get ahead of Chris Spencer in Race 1. 1st was Mark Harper, Solo, CYC, 2nd Malcolm Buchanan, Solo, DQSC, 3rd Roger Millett, Solo, CYC. Jimmy Carter was 4th. Race 2 was black flagged, following a general recall, with very little wind, and no wind around some of the marks, only those enthusiastic about no wind sailing finished the race with many not finishing..

In the Slow Fleet in Race 1, the Laser 4.7 of Harry Kennedy (Hillhead) led the Fleet during the race, with Jessica Carter (CYC) chasing in her Topper as were Archie & Bruce Grant in their Mirror. The Optimists meanwhile were led by Arthur Fry (CYC), with a good start managed to keep well ahead of the other Optimists. Arthur finally took first place on handicap, Archie & Bruce Grant –Mirror were second and Lucy Mellors (CYC) in an Optimist was 3rd. Race 2 was abandoned for the Slow Fleet due to lack of wind.

The next races take place on Sunday 18th November at 13:00.