Fox's Marine and Country Alton Water Frostbite Series 2015 - Day 4

Perhaps the start of an Olympic campaign on day 4 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series © Tim Bees

Smile for the camera on day 4 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series © Emer Berry

With 108 boats now entered in the series, the slightly lower turnout on the water this week gave the race team a chance to recuperate and even take a coffee break between getting the last start away and the first start completing their first lap... well almost; with a 49er out racing that was never going to happen, even with the temperature doing its best to cool the coffee.

It was a grey start to the day and a forecast 10mph breeze from the SW with a promise of the wind backing slightly and the sun coming out, never materialised. The wind veered if anything and then returned back to the SW with the sun only appearing over the Shotley Peninsula well after everyone had returned home. That's the problem with forecasts; they don't always play the game.

The now familiar W course was set around specially laid windward marks and a leeward mark to ensure no crossing and all windward marks to port (the now standard Frostbite course). The Zone Oppie Squad were being hosted for the weekend and room was found for them at the East End beyond the wing mark and towards the dam wall.

An amendment to the SIs was posted regarding the general recall procedure and the intention is that this will apply for the rest of the series – naughty fleets go to the back of the class for a black flag start and on any subsequent general recalls, [(general recalls)2 for the mathematicians], the starts will be combined in what could be mayhem but should get us home in time for work, school or play the next day.

After a short delay for the first race of the day to allow for the wind direction to settle and the committee boat to anchor, racing got underway; again there was more breeze on the right, but left was the smart way to go, at least up the first beat. A fair line with boats distributed from committee boat to pin end still saw four or so boats called back.

The discretionary rule that 'a race can be shortened at any lap for detached boats' was brought into play for the fast fleet with the 'detached' aspect applying to all of the fleet bar the 49er – thus allowing the boats to finish in a short(ish) window and get the second back-to-back race underway in a reasonable time.

The second race of the day followed the pattern of the first, but results-wise some competitors were able to move up the overall placings and put pressure on the current leaders. With the sun and blue sky still a distance away and the assumption that the competitors were as cold as those on the committee boat, the second race was shortened after a 40 minute race.

A long cold day for some on day 4 of the Alton Water Frostbite Series - photo © Tim Bees

In both races of the day, judging the optimum place on the finish line was key and here places were won and lost for the Lasers, OKs and RS200s – so perhaps it is worth giving some thought to where to finish as you sail through the line on the penultimate lap?

Pity those poor Oppie Squaddies (and coach Flip) who had to go out on the water again. A stronger wind is in the offing for next week (and going by the forecast it is more than strengthening – it looks like an in your face gale; in your face as you get out of the car, in your face as you launch... but dry!) Next Sunday please expect a briefing on racing etiquette and our self-policing sport – you have been warned.

Pictures from this week's racing available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/129954669@N05/sets/72157648161729913/

As ever some non-racing updates:

• No Dragon Boat this week – perhaps they were learning that new tune (we can only hope)

• What could have been the highlight of the day was the request that came over the radio from the Centre professional staff to the OOD to dive down and free up the leeward mark which was caught up in the pipework (he dropped it there, so he can get it back)..... if only I'd had my swimming shorts guys!

• It was personally pleasing to hear the younger sailors discussing their rights at marks in a reasonable manner and some were even heard to be singing; now anything is better than the rhythmic beating from that Dragon Boat.

Day 4 Provisional Results:

After 8 races the series leaders in each fleet so far are: (showing overall points with two discards)

• Fast: Mike Bees (10), Matthew House (16) Will Patten (17)
• Laser: Pete Kyne (9), Graham Ireland (12), Ben Powell (20)
• OK: Daniel Ager (14), Simon Cox (23), David Rose (24)
• Medium: Harry Pynn/Gemma Cook (13), David Conlon/Sarah Bines (14), Will Taylor/Fiona Mulchay (18)
• Slow: Ashley Deaton (23), Matt Taylor (25), Archie Penn/Hazel Whittle (25)

Full race by race results can be found at www.altonwater.co.uk/index.php?pid=167&series=377&full_series_fleet=377