Fox's Marine and Country Alton Water Frostbite Series 2014 - Day 3

Medium fleet underway on day 3 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series © Emer Berry

The Great Northern Diver extends his stay in Suffolk. It's a mystery.

The third of the 9 Sunday Fox's Marine and Country series was held on January 19th in yet another pleasant weather window with the previous night's rain conveniently stopping at 9am, the temperature rising to a heady 9 degrees C and the sun making longer and longer appearances as the day went on. Six more weeks of the series to go, so all to play for, even for new entrants! Overall entry numbers are now over the magic 100 with around 70 boats out on the water each weekend – do come and join us.

Our surprising visitor 'The Great Northern Diver' stayed on from last week and has moved from his (her?) spectating position at the gybe mark to windward mark #2 and remained on show as the committee boat went out to the start. A visit to Spec Savers is planned for this week for both the committee and pin end boat crews so that we can spot early starting Lasers and it may also be of some use in the ornithological sense. Is this a picture of the GND? Wind direction and strength differed across weather forecasters but they all agreed that it would veer towards the west at some time during the day. The course was laid prior to the briefing and then re-laid before the start of the first race and then re-re-laid once again before the start of the second race of the day. The wind shift and race timings coincided to ensure that all races had two true beats every lap, but the angles on the off-wind legs changed throughout the day.

Waiting for the start on day 3 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series - photo © Bob Aldous-Horne

The "we had this course last week" quote was met with the response "that's because the wind has some south in it the same as last week, but you will notice that the windward marks are in a different position". We all look forward to a change of wind direction and to be able to sing that popular East Anglian refrain by Toyah Wilcox "It's a Westerly" – enough showing my age (and yes OK it was a 'mystery' just like the weather – see www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgee3IGYZsU).

Race by race action highlights from the four fleets:

• A Spitfire joined the fun in the fast fleet and while easily getting away from the rest of their competitors could only manage a mid fleet result on handicap. A not so good day for the Fireball, with the Merlin reigning supreme on the water but once again those bandits in their Phantoms showed well in the results. Lower down the fleet the RS400s and 29er had some close on the water battles in both races. Some thought is going into how we balance race times with a considerable range of speed in this fleet.

• Once again 18 Lasers came to the line and with us losing some sailors who have gone back to University there didn't appear to be any loss of quality in the fleet. A shame that some of the Lasers came to the line a little too early! The race officer is already booking this fleet a black flag start for next week. A well-sailed Radial showed the Standards how it should be done by leading at the first mark and this in an 8mph breeze, only to be reeled in as the race went on. Once again very close racing with honours at the front evenly matched, one win to an 'over 50' and the other to an 'under 20' with our NZL entrant getting a couple of thirds. Mid fleet finishers should not be disgruntled as there is quality and good competition throughout the fleet.

• For the second week running there were 18 medium handicap starters and with the two top Larks in the series choosing to take a week off there were opportunities for some new faces to get on the podium. The top RS200, leading OKs and Larks did not disappoint, getting top five places in the two races between them. The three Finns had some very close racing and were heard to enquire who beat who as they crossed the line – impatient to know the results or competitive or what? A well sailed Solo and Streaker mixed results with Finns once handicaps were applied. If the Lasers are true to form and get started last under a black flag next week then this medium handicap fleet could get a clear wind and easier sail – we'll see what happens.

• A welcome back to the slow fleet for the Brightlingsea contingent who were away at Scout Camp last week. The series-leading Cadet took a week out and with a new to the series Cadet from the same club picking up two wins, we look forward to the day when they race each other – next week? It was a Cadet day with only the Tera Pros and Toppers joining them in the top scoring places. Next best results over the two races of the day went to the Topazs. It is a long way around the course for some of this fleet so well done for your perseverance and especially the cheerful "thank yous" you deliver to the finish boat at the end of the day. All boats safely ashore and in time to complete homework ready for Monday.

No flat batteries, no failing hooters, just what seemed like 50 boats finishing in five minutes was this week's challenge for the ever resourceful and willing ladies on the committee boat. Also a special mention must be made of the safety boat crew that diligently raises the committee boat anchor at the end of the racing to save the OOD getting his hands wet. What a service – all this and the marks moved on request. Keep it up.

More racing next Sunday with the first start at 11 am. Feel free (or rather you have to pay) to join us as the limit on entries has increased to 120 – accommodating or commercial or what? The Great Northern Diver and perhaps Toyah Wilcox adding some further interest.

Race 5 & 6 Results:

Full race by race results and overall to date can be found at www.altonwater.co.uk/index.php?pid=167&series=346&full_series_fleet=346