Chichester Yacht Club Open Snowflake Series - Day 4
by Louise Varley 20 Feb 2014 07:42 GMT
16 February 2014
Snowflake races 7 & 8
The rain stopped and the sun came out for CYC's Snowflake, and after a short postponement the breeze filled in to about 4-6 knots from the southwest – enough to start racing, but it remained shifty. Race Officer Nick Elliman set a long P course, with a shorter triangle for the slow fleet.
The fast fleet was smaller than of late, with 15 entrants, all visitors as CYC sailors took their turn to do duties. After a general recall for the first race, A Massey and Harvey Hillary from Itchenor shot round in their International 14, lapping most of the fleet to take 3rd on handicap behind the Merlin Rockets of William Warren & Mark Oakley (Shoreham) and Steve & Sarah Cockerill (HISC).
By the end of the race the breeze had strengthened to 8-10 knots and shifted more towards the south, so the course was realigned to give a true beat to the windward mark. Race 8 saw the International 14 finishing a lap and a bit ahead to win, followed by the Merlin Rockets of Chris Jennings & Ally Martin and Ian & Ellie Sharps (all Burghfield). The leader board is topped by 3 Merlin Rockets: Warren & Oakley, Jackson & Gifford, and the Cockerills, all level on 13 points net. With 2 races to go and another discard, the 14 could steal the prize if they turn up and perform on 2 March.
24 boats turned out for the medium fleet, 15 of them visitors. Although 3 CYC Lasers crossed the line ahead of them in Race 7, it was the Solos of Gerome Bakker (HISC), Ray Collins (Locks) and Mark Harper (CYC) which took the top 3 on handicap. For Race 8 the fleet was a bit too keen, and after a general recall the leading fast fleet boats had to thread their way through the crowded medium fleet start-line. Lasers again crossed the finish first, but the Solos claimed 1st (Bakker) and 2nd (Harper), with the Laser of Richard Bailey (Emsworth) in 3rd. Bakker, Bailey and Harper hold the top 3 places in the series to date.
There were 7 Toppers in the slow fleet, Jess Hodge (CYC) coming out of hibernation for Race 7 to show that it always pays to know the course, as all the boats ahead sailed away to the wrong mark. Jess Carter (CYC) made up a lot of ground to take 2nd, with Howard Lane (Lancing) 3rd. Race 8 was won by Jess Carter, followed by Charlotte Reading (CYC) and Jess Hodge. Carter holds the lead in the series so far, followed by Lane and the Mirror of Edward & Celia Hansell (Itchenor), with Reading close behind.
Races 9 & 10 are on Sunday 2nd March, starting at 10.30, followed by Prize-giving.
For full results see www.cyc.co.uk/dinghy_section/results/opens/snowflake_2014.htm