Chichester Yacht Club Frozen Toe Series Race 7

Fireball during the Chichester Yacht Club Frozen Toe Series © Louise Varley

Yet another scary forecast put off a few of the earlier competitors, whilst others were spurred on by the promise of mince pies and mulled wine before prize-giving. With wind and tide in the same direction, up the channel from Itchenor, Race Officer Nick Colbourne again set a compact trapezium + sausage.

From 20-25 knots at 9.30, the breeze had dropped off to 15-20k at the briefing time of 11.30, only to come back up again to 20-25k by race time, and with gusts of nearly 30 knots there were a few capsizes amongst the 6 starters in the fast fleet. Only 5 finished, Olivia Winther and Hatty Culver opting for the shore after sinking their RS200. First by a safe margin was the flying Fireball of CYC members Andy Palmer-Felgate and Rich Anderson. Our visitors from Felpham in the Laser Vago XD, Richard Bentley and Ian Anderson, came in second on the water, but dropped back to 4th on handicap, leaving and 3rd to CYC sailors Nick and Roger Elliman (RS400).

Again with the biggest entry (16), the medium fleet was dominated by CYC member Ian Barnett in his Solo, turning up for the first time in the series, followed by Guy Mayger of Felpham in his. Richard Bailey (Emsworth) came 3rd in his Laser, despite being 1st over the line. In the battle of the CYC 2000s, Michael and Paula Olliff showed how much they have improved to beat Helen and Mark Green, some way ahead of Chris Hodge and Richard Smyth, who had a muddy masthead and a bent burgee.

With a bigger fleet of 13 starters, the slow fleet was led by the Emsworth RS Feva, crew Halliday with a different helm in Grace Summers. The RS Tera of Alex Butler from HISC was 1st on handicap, and Henry Chandler (Emsworth) took 2nd in his Optimist relegating the Feva to 3rd.

In the final race of the series, the Fireball flew round again, showing us all that flat is fast, and bagging the trophy. 2nd again went to the Hendersons, but with only 3 races they did not qualify for the chocs. The Vago hung in there for a 3rd place, giving them a well-deserved 2nd overall. The rest went back early for the MPs and MW, but the Ellimans gained 3rd overall in the series. The girls in the 200 somehow managed 4th, even though they only finished one race in the series, and found a beehive in the bow when they bailed it out after sinking again.

The medium fleet was again shown the way by Barnett, with 2nd and 3rd places reversed, with Bailey 2nd, though 1st home, and Mayger 3rd. 2000 helm Hodge managed to stay upright to beat the Olliffs. Overall, Mayger had a well-deserved 1st place through consistently good performance, while Mark Harper (CYC) nobly did his duty on the committee boat this week, gaining average points and a 2nd place overall. Lucy Boreham, in her Europe, took a very creditable 3rd.

In the slow fleet, places 1 and 2 were repeated, 3rd going to Celia Hansell (Itchenor) in a Topper. In the overall results, Howard Lane from Lancing (Topper) gained 1st place through consistently good performance. 2nd and 3rd went to CYC siblings Blythe and Raulf Berry in their Optimists.

Overall results for the 3 fleets combined are worked out by some arcane formula known only to the few. Medium fleet won all the cookies: Guy Mayger got the trophy, Mark Harper was 2nd, and Lucy Boreham 3rd.

Now the days are lengthening and spring is coming (some time), come back and join us for the CYC Open Snowflake Series on Sunday 5th January. NOR, SIs etc on www.cyc-dinghies.co.uk

For full results see these pages:

• Fast fleet
• Medium fleet
• Slow fleet