40th Hoo Freezer at Hoo Ness Yacht Club

Murky conditions for the 40th Hoo Freezer © Roy Winnett

Murky conditions for the 40th Hoo Freezer © Roy Winnett

Murky conditions for the 40th Hoo Freezer © Roy Winnett

The 40th Hoo Freezer was held over the weekend 19 & 20th February, hosted by Hoo Ness YC and organised with assistance from Wilsonian SC. Hoo Marina were the main sponsors of the event with generous contributions from MDL, Gillingham Marina and Shepherd Neame. Other sailing clubs, the scouts, St John’s Ambulance and Coast Guard provided safety cover.

The customary format was followed; practice race on Saturday and the Hoo Freezer on Sunday, with two starts, fast handicap PY less than 1000 and medium handicap PY 1001 – 1160. Courses were set to make full use of the river over top of the tide and give a variety of leeward, windward reaching legs. Entries were down on previous years to just 62 boats.

Saturday dawned with overcast skies, persistent drizzle and a cold southeasterly breeze. 40 boats were on the start line but regrettably the wind gradually dropped away and just 21 boats managed to finish within an extended time limit.

Tristan Hutt/Tom Clayton (49ER) led the fast fleet but was forced to retire as they missed out a mark on the final upwind leg. Toby Barsley-Dale/Gareth Russell (Flying Dutchman) and Andrew Peake (Musto Skiff) were close behind the leaders, swapped places on the final homeward leg for Peake to claim line honours. Although Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Merlin Rocket) kept well ahead of the medium fleet, the conditions favoured the Scorpions and Chris Swincraft/Nicky Marsh claimed victory on corrected time to lift the Gun Wharf Cup, with Peake runner-up and Barsley-Dale/Gareth Russell third.

The rain cleared away overnight but the grey overcast skies and murky conditions remained with a chilly force 2-3 northeasterly. To ensure all boats had a finish a shorter course was set, this proved to be too short for some. The medium handicap fleet got away cleanly but the start of the fast fleet had to be postponed as the medium fleet after rounding the windward and downwind marks and with spinnakers flying sailed back alongside the start line.

The Merlin Rockets of Tom Stewart/Steve Hall and Phil Emery/Will Lowes and Scorpions of Tim/Sarah Parsons and Peter Gray/Rachel Rodes steadily eased ahead of the medium fleet with Stuart Bailey/Zoe Noble (Buzz) and David Fenech/Alison Williams (V3000) in close attendance. Stewart/Hall held the lead to the line to win on corrected time and claim the Hoo Freezer Cup, finishing over 2 minutes ahead of third placed Emery/Lowes. The Parsons led the Scorpions home for second prize, with Gray/Rodes fourth. The Merlin/Scorpion dominance was completed with Rien Zivoid/Julie Nuttall 6th and John Clementson/Simon McGuire 7th.

Mathew Larkin/Paul Jenkins (International 14) broke this dominance, as they overhauled the fast fleet leaders and followed Hutt/Tom to the line for fifth. Fenech/Williams won the contest with Bailey/Noble on adjusted time for 8th & 9th respectively while Chris/Nikki Catt won the RS 200 struggle with Steve/Judy Restall for 10th.

The Scorpions won both team prizes; Class and Club while Aaron Smith and Alec Rodgers retained the Hoo Marina Cup for highest placed youth sailor in their 29er.

The race officer had difficulty on deciding an appropriate recipient of the Race Officer’s prize, so the sailing committee put him out of his misery by awarding it to the race officer Tom Sims. An appropriate award for all the hard work that is required before and during the race to ensure successful race management.

Medway Deputy Mayor, Cllr Vaughan Hewett with help from Peter Gaskin the Commodore of Hoo Ness Yacht Club, presented the prizes.

Overall Results/Prizes:

Practice race
1st Scorpion 2008, Chris Swinchatt/Nicky Marsh (Chipstead SC)
2nd Musto Skiff 288, Andrew Peake (Whitstable SC)
3rd Flying Dutchman 369, Toby Barsley-Dale/Gareth Russell (Paxton Lakes SC)

Hoo Freezer Cup
Tom Stewart/Steve Hall (Northampton SC)

Gun Wharf Cup
Chris Swinchatt/Nicky Marsh (Chipstead SC)

Hoo Marina Cup (Highest placed Youth Sailor)
Aaron Smith/Alec Rodgers 29er (Wilsonian SC)

Highest Placed Class Team
Scorpions: Tim/Sarah Parsons (Lyme Regis SC) Peter Gray/Rachel Rodes (Staunton Harold SC) Chris Swinchatt/Nicky Marsh (Chipstead SC)

Highest Placed Club Team
Chipstead: Janet/Alan Richie (Scorpion), Barry Wolfenden/Melanie Titmus (Scorpion), and John Clementson/Simon McGuire (Scorpion),

Race Officer’s Prize
Tom Sims

Overall Results: