Alton Water Zhik Seamark Nunn Frostbite Series - Day 9
by Jenny Pavey 8 Mar 2013 15:56 GMT
24 February 2013
Week 9 and the last day of a series that had previously seen racing disrupted by fog twice, snow and an iced-over reservoir, but then this was the Frostbite Series so what did we expect? So for this, the final day of the series, with a forecast of 2 – 5 knots north-easterly, the expectant sailors were crossing fingers and toes that there would be enough wind to race.
Some wanted to race to have the last chance to move into the prizes, while others were happy with the results as they were and hoping not to go out. There was still some ice around the edges of the reservoir and a few floating ice floes which the rescue boat crew bravely ventured out to break up, hoping to whistle up the wind while they were at it.
A couple of Phantom sailors attempted to prove to the race officer and the watching throng that conditions were sailable – well, they left the shore and got back again but even in one of the more over-sailed classes they could not find enough wind around what could have been the course, parking up at the expected leeward end.
It was not to be. First there was a postponement and then at 11.45, knowing that any race run needed to be fair, the race officer declared there would be no racing that day and AP over N was flown from the shore-bound committee boat.
The prizegiving followed, with generous Zhik sponsorship prizes presented by Andrew Nunn from Seamark Nunn and Alton Water pottery prizes presented by the Chairman, Mark Hainsworth. The race officer, committee boat crew, photographers and results churners were all thanked for their assistance.
The wind filled in during the prize giving (as seen from the clubhouse) but dropped again to a few zephyrs so the decision not to race was for once and with hindsight, the correct one.
It had been a closely fought series with good quality racing, which was particularly close in the Medium Handicap and Laser classes. Despite the problems with the weather, 8 out of the planned 9 Frostbite Series races were sailed, though in the post-lunch separate Sub-Zero series only four races were run.
Next events at Alton Water - the March Super Series starts on Sunday March 10th and consists of two back-to-back races over the following four Sundays. On Sunday March 24, there is a Laser Traveller, part of the Home Counties & Eastern Region Grand Prix series, with four races planned. Visitors and members are welcome for both these events.
Frostbite Series overall results:
Fast Handicap
1st David Hearsum/Ian Hearsum - Kestrel, Hickling Broad SC
2nd Tony Power/Tom Dutton - 505, Stour SC
3rd Oli Harris - RS300, Alton Water SC
Phantoms
1st Matt House - Alton Water SC
2nd Robert Portway - Alton Water SC
3rd Ian Pavey - Alton Water SC
Lasers
1st Graham Ireland - Standard, Royal Harwich YC
2nd David Reason - Standard, Alton Water SC
3rd Gary Pilgrim - Standard, Alton Water SC
4th & 1st Radial - Charlie Linsell, Waldringfield SC
Medium Handicap
1st Alan Krailing/Tim Linsell - Lark, Waldringfield SC
2nd Stephen Videlo/Maddie Harris - Lark, Waldringfield SC
3rd Harry Pynn/Gemma Cook - Lark, Waldringfield SC
Slow handicap
1st Alistair Grant - Optimist, Alton Water SC
2nd Barry Garrod - Topaz Uno, Alton Water SC
3rd Gus Cooney/James Mitchin - Cadet, Waldringfield SC
Sub Zero Series Overall:
1st Matt House - Phantom, Alton Water SC
2nd Graham Ireland - Laser Standard, Royal Harwich YC
3rd Oli Harris - RS300, Alton Water SC
Full results can be found at www.altonwater.co.uk