Alton Water 2018 Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series - Day 5

View from the air on day 5 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series © Tim Bees

Close racing at the front of the Laser fleet on day 5 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series © Tim Bees

After the balmy conditions of last week, week five of this popular series saw a return to typical frostbite weather, with a biting and gusty north-easterly breeze.

Now with the series back on track after a couple of postponements, only two races were scheduled and as all the fleets behaved themselves for the start of the first race, with no recalls, the Race Officer decided to give them their moneys-worth and send them round for the set number of laps for the first time this series.

There were several windshifts predominately from the right on the first beat requiring marks to be moved before the start and as the shifts corrected themselves (in true reservoir fashion) no further course re-sets were needed. The course made the best of the reservoir shape with two beats, a reach, and run and now-standard reach along the bottom making the most of the 12 knot breeze.

We have ways of identifying early starters... Day 5 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series - photo © Tim Bees

There were some nasty gusts which saw a Merlin Rocket dismasted and several capsizes. The second race was considerably shorter with the dropping temperature and lure of an afternoon rugby game on television. Apologies to any eagle-eyed competitors who spotted the Committee Boat on the move before the start of the Medium fleet when a sailor hooked his boat round the anchor chain and took it for a ride.

Asymmetrics on the first beat on day 5 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series - photo © Emer Berry

With ten races sailed and another discard coming into play there are new series leaders in the Laser, Medium and Slow fleets.

Two races are scheduled this Sunday and we will be joined on the reservoir by a fleet of Aeros having a training weekend. The high water levels mean there should be plenty of room.

Series Leaders: (ten races, 3 discards)

Day 4 Results:

Full results can be found here and photos can be seen on the Alton Water Sailing Facebook page and Tim Bees' photos on flickr here.