Alton Water 2016 Fox's Marine and Country Frostbite Series - Day 5

This was the middle weekend of the nine Sunday Series and with 10 of the 18 scheduled races sailed it is timely to present the half-term report, but first an update on the day.

The local forecast ranged from 5 to 15 mph and from the SW, going S then SE and later from the West. – the various sources were all agreed on one thing though; rain and a wind chill factor of 3C. Once again the wind was true to the forecast, with the course being laid pre-briefing to the light south westerly and then some fine tuning of the marks on the appearance of the southerly and increasing breeze for the first race. A short delay between races allowed for a significant shift of the marks to accommodate (and provide a balanced course in) the south easterly breeze... and as we packed up for the day the temperature rose, the rain stopped and the breeze came in from the west.

Wherever the breeze came from it was a cold and wet day on the water, not quite windy enough to expend sufficient energy to keep warm and, with the rain, it was not one of East Anglia's finest days. The new race entry limit with additional places available on the day (pre-book via website) saw 83 boats out racing, so the weather was not too much of a deterrent. It was to be expected that the conditions would encourage early starters and all were spotted and recalled from three of the five starts without the imposition of a black flag recalled start.

Around they go again on day 5 of the Alton Water Fox's Marine & Country Frostbite Series - photo © Emer Berry

The customary 'as long as we can make it' lap distance is proving challenging from a race management perspective, with the lack of granularity around total race times, although it does provide better racing. To ensure we could turn around the back to back racing quickly, judicious use was made of the 'finish at race officer's discretion', with some boats within a class completing a different number of laps. In some sort of mitigation; your not so mentally-agile team on the committee boat cannot manage to differentiate across classes – once we go into the finish sequence.... we go into the finish sequence for all boats.

As promised...

Half-term report - Class by Class

Fast
The Merlin Rocket of Dan Willett and Pete Nicholson has returned to its winning ways with two wins and has a narrow 2 point advantage in the overall table. With a variety of boats in the fast start it is amazing how close the on-the- water racing is; a change in breeze of even a knot or two can bring Phantoms or RS300s to the front.

Asymmetrics
This week the overall fleet leader in an RS200 David Conlon and Sarah Bines) consolidated their points advantage over the second placed RS Feva by taking a perfect two wins, with a bunch of RS200s fighting it out for third prize.

To date the RS200s have outperformed their bigger cousin the RS400s, both on handicap and on the water. This start is nearly a RS regatta in its own right with only 6 of the 30 entrants sailing non-RS boats.

Lasers
A shortened second race of the day for all but 6 or so Lasers who were made to sail on for their glory, with Pete Kyne sailing consistently and taking two wins. Only one point separates the first two boats in the league table – with Ashley Deaton representing Radial honours in second place. All to play for then in the second half (of the series).

Medium
This is the highest scoring league with the overall leader, James Cully in a Solo, not yet having stood on the top step of the Sunday podium. Although the Solos and Larks look well placed for the series, the 420s are not out of contention yet.

Matthew Stearn and Katie Spark in their Lark were the best performers on the day and move up to fourth overall.

Slow
Apologies are due here to the Cadet sailors who were shortened for the first race and then made to sail on for the second race – we grown -ups just can't get it right! It was a Tera day with Matt Taylor taking two wins and consolidating his position at the top of the leader board. Pride is at stake for the rest of the series between the single and double-handers.

Overall in the club stakes
Brightlingsea have the lead in 3 of the 5 fleets with Alton Water and Norfolk Broads Yacht Club picking up the others. The mighty Waldringfielders of old are not doing quite so well in 2016.

Homework

1. Would you expect to see a red-crested grebe, red-necked grebe or red-eyed grebe at Alton Water?
2. Where can you have a consultation with a doctor or a vet just as you are about to launch (Bosun the Centre's cat and others would probably take their chance with the vet)?
3. Who has exchanged management of the centre for nappy changing and paternity leave as a first-time father for the remainder of the Series?
4. As heard from one of the competitors – what do they do on the committee boat other than drink coffee?

Day 5 Results: