Highcliffe Sailing Club Icicle Open Series - Day 2

Highcliffe SC Icicle Open Series day 2 © Sarah Desjonqueres

Highcliffe SC Icicle Open Series day 2 © Sarah Desjonqueres

Highcliffe SC Icicle Open series races 3&4 served up a rather spicy, sometimes hairy and for some very wet, brace of races yesterday.

Clear blue skies and the promise of some proper wind to play with called 25 boats to the start line and with the Icicle finally living up to its name our intrepid sailors donned gear that wouldn't have been out of place on the pistes. The cause of the bite in the air was an arctic F3 - F5 North Easterly, which for the most part seemed relatively benign but as the morning wore on sporadically delivered patches of swirling fleet flatteners which marched across Christchurch Harbour turning broad reaches tight and trying to cartwheel running Lasers. Seriously great fun to photograph!

Race one got off to a clean start but the erratic winds that were to shape the morning's racing had already started to show their teeth flicking CSC Atkins Finn into a spin and giving us the first swim of the day. Up front, in a borrowed Aero 9, kindly brought by LTSC Barton, CSC Acton had got off to a flying start and for the first 2 legs of the race led the way, holding off the master Barton (Aero 7), albeit with a larger sail, tightly chased around by CSC's Percival (Finn) and Philips (Finn). Finally letting his lead slip at the leeward mark, Barton then took over at the front gradually extending his lead for the remainder of the race and despite the efforts of Acton and Percival, took the win on the water and on correction leaving Percival to take 2nd place and Acton, 3rd (6th on correction). Putting in a fantastic performance in her 4.7 rig was MSC Challener who successfully navigated the vicious gusts and worked hard both rounds earning herself 3rd place on correction.

Highcliffe SC Icicle Open Series day 2 - photo © Sarah Desjonqueres

The really cold water, icy blasts and unpredictability of the weather, sought to undo several sailors and the start line for the second race had dwindled to 18 boats. The wind had also picked up a notch and the race team found themselves swapping the camera for rescue duties. Again the race belonged to Barton, untouchable from start to finish, Percival and Atkins did their utmost to hunt him down finishing their race within 3 seconds of each other and it was only CSC Barnes (4.7) who managed to do any damage, working hard and respectfully earning 2nd position on correction nudging Percival down into 3rd place in the end. MSC Reid (Radial) put in a good show but was unable to quite match his previous performance of 3rd and 2nd places ending the races with highly honourable 4th and 5th places.

Highcliffe SC Icicle Open Series day 2 - photo © Sarah Desjonqueres

Across the harbour, the wind had decided to have fun, ramping up the volume and wreaking havoc on every leg. Several dinghies opted for a DNF and the safe haven of the clubhouse, although some were less fortunate and took several swims before they found the finish line and could head for home. All in all, pretty exciting day out on the water and we are all looking forward to races 5&6... aren't we? Next 2 Icicle Open races will take place 17th February at 11am at Highcliffe SC in Christchurch Harbour.

Results after Day 2: