Chichester Yacht Club Snowflake Series

Details on writing and sending reports to us can be found here

Chichester Yacht Club Snowflake Series - Day 3

by Chris Hodge 3 Feb 2013 07:15 GMT 27 January 2013

Chichester Snowflake Series day 3 © Dave Reading

Sunday dawned with a stiff breeze, with a wind forecast of Force 5 gusting to Force 7. The south westerly wind brought air temperatures of 11°C but the sea remained very cold at 5°C. Race Office Andy Conway set a L shaped course starting on the north of the marina channel.

In Race 5 the wind was a gusty F5. The Fast Fleet had 15 boats on the start line. The Fireball of Sam Methan & Richard Anderton (Hayling Island SC) led throughout the Race, finishing in first on the water and on handicap. The Fireball was chased hard by the RS 400 of Nick & Roger Elliman (Chichester YC) as well as the Merlin Rockets of Steve & Sarah Cockerill (Hillhead SC) and Alex Jackson & Will Carroll (Shoreham SC). All the boats had some exciting runs and reaches with their spinnakers. Steve & Sarah eventually took second & Alex & Will 3rd. The Fireball of Sam & Richard leads the series.

In Race 6 the wind increased to Force 6, the tide turned and the sea was much rougher. Sam Methan & Richard Anderton in their Fireball again led throughout the Race. There was again close racing especially between the RS400s, RS200s, & Merlin Rockets with George Yeoman & Sophie Ormsby - RS200 (Itchenor) taking 2nd from Alex Jackson & Will Carroll in 3rd.

In the Medium Fleet in Race 5 there were also 15 starters. William Warren & Sophie Mackley in their National 12 (Shoreham SC) led the race taking 1st on handicap. Behind them there was a close battle between Charlie Porter & Jimmy Carter in Lasers (both CYC) with Jimmy finishing a few seconds ahead to take 2nd with Charlie 3rd. In Race 6 the conditions proved too much for some. The National 12 put on a good show but did not finish. The Lasers & Solos were left to some close racing in the consditons, with the first 3 places going to Solos. 1st Ian Barnett (CYC), 2nd Ray Collins (Locks SC), 3rd Mark Harper, (CYC). At the end of the day William Warren & Sophie Mackley lead the series.

The Slow Fleet were reduced in number due to the breezy conditions, as well as training elsewhere. The tricky conditions did lead to a few capsizes & retirements. The racing in the top of the Fleet was similar in Races 5 & 6 the Mirror of Joanna Kalderon & Imogen Belfield led throughout both races, winning both. Harry Kennedy in his Laser 4.7 (Hillhead SC) took second in both races, and Jessica Carter (Topper, CYC) 3rd. Alex Butler in his RS Tera Pro continues to lead the series.