Jersey Pallot Windows Frostbite Series - Race 4
by Bill Harris 16 Dec 2010 07:21 GMT
12 December 2010
The fourth race in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s Pallot Windows Frostbite Series was held in reasonably benign conditions in St Aubin’s Bay on Sunday, 12th December. Although the wind was, as in race three, from the northeast it lacked the biting chill that was a major feature of that race. Sixteen boats ventured out for the early morning start, the class 1 cruisers scheduled to go at nine o’clock with classes two and three ten minutes later.
Most boats opted for a spinnaker start in the light breeze, although arguably not as slick as it might have been in some cases. Class one arch-rivals Rhys Perkins A35, Abracadabra and David Jones’ First 34.7, Jackana, private duel at the start allowed Neil Maclachlan and Alex Ohlssohn’s J109, Jai Ho, to get clean away to produce her best performance in the series to date. Despite the undoubted efforts of the A35 and J109, Jai Ho was truly ‘on song’, sailing to take line honours and the race on corrected time, a clear minute ahead of Jackana, two ahead of Abracadabra. With two races still to run, Abracadabra leads the series with seven points, just two ahead of Jackana and four ahead of Jai Ho. The gloves will certainly be off for the next outing!
Having come third in the last race, Steve Pearl’s X79, Less Xpense, was back on form, making a very good start, quickly opening up an impressive gap between herself and her rivals. Dave Williams’ Conrad 760, Tom Bombadil, and Jeff Speller’s Farr 727, 2Farr, were ever in contention along with Paul Treliving’s Jones 27, Odd Job, making her debut in the series but the X79 sailed on to take line honours and the race, a minute clear of Tom Bombadil. 2Farr had to settle for third, finishing some forty seconds later. If things are tight in class 1, they are even more so in class two with Less Xpense on six points and Tom Bombadil on seven. 2Farr lies third with eleven points.
With her cruising chute well set, Mark Tucker’s Westerly Merlin, Lisia, was first off the line in the Jersey Handicap class but a promising start did not bring any ultimate rewards as the fleeter-footed boats sailed away in the light to moderate breeze. Line honours went to David Hall’s First 27.7, Vamos, but it was to be Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata, Rondo of Cowes, that eventually clinched her second victory, finishing a little more than a minute ahead of Kevin Holden’s UFO27, Matchless, on corrected time. Vamos came third. Rondo appears to have a clear lead in the series with seven points against Lisia’s thirteen and Matchless’ fifteen. However, this lead hides the fact that the series allows one discard if all six races are sailed, as the organisers anticipate. The series is not in the bag just yet!
The fifth race is scheduled for Sunday, 9th January, with an eight thirty a.m. start.
Race 4 Results: (top three)
Class 1 (IRC)
1 Jai Ho - Neil Maclachlan & Alex Ohlssohn (1.26.35)
2 Jackana – David Jones (1.27.28)
3 Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins & Ptnrs (1.28.30)
Class 2 (IRC)
1 Less Xpense – Steve Pearl (0.56.53)
2 Tom Bombadil – Dave Williams (0.57.51)
3 2Farr – Jeff Speller (0.58.30)
Class 3 (Jersey Handicap)
1 Rondo of Cowes – Chris Fritot (1.09.07)
2 Matchless – Kevin Holden (1.10.17)
3 Vamos – David Hall (1.13.07)
Detailed results are available on www.rciyc.je