Icicle Series at Highcliffe Sailing Club - Day 1

by Sarah Desjonqueres 11 Jan 2016 16:49 GMT 10 January 2016

Highcliffe Sailing Club Icicle series off to a flying start

After recent torrential rain and gale force winds, a band of hardy sailors showed up in Christchurch harbour for the first 2 races of this year's Highcliffe Sailing Club Icicle Series.

Under a bright, wintery sky and a perfect F4-5 South Westerly, 24 boats of various classes including RS200, Finn, Laser, Radials, 4.7s, Comet, Solo, RS Feva and a Scow representing 6 different local sailing clubs lined up for a 10.30 start.

It was the visitors who stole the march up the first beat with Vlax (Finn) and Grisley (Finn) and Arnell (Finn) rounding the windward mark first followed tightly behind by Team Bowen (RS200). Sailing past Christchurch Priory the fight was between the leading RS200 and the Finns. Team Bowen choosing to keep the kite flying banged the corners down the run and pipped the Finns to gybe round the mark first.

As the race progressed, the winds dropped off and over the finish line of the first race, under a calm F2-3, passed a succession of 5 visitors, Parkstone's Team Bowen (RS200), followed by Keyhavens' Grisely and Vlax, Chirstchurch's Arnell, Keyhaven's Steel (Finn) and Spinnaker's May (Laser).

Between races, the wind backed slightly and with that picked up again handsomely to give our sailors a F4-5 to play with. Race 2 saw the fleet beat more closely together across the middle of the harbour.

With a tight pack of boats arriving at the same time, the windward mark was closely contested with many shouts for 'water' and was rounded first by Arnell with the Bowens in hot pursuit. Seconds behind them were the Radials of Phelps and Reid which managed to leave the Finns of Grisely and Steel and Waite's Solo in their wake.

The second round saw the Bowens' RS200 lead the way, with May's Laser up amongst the lead boats and some interesting gusts to help them fly down the reaches. Despite their daggerboard popping up under full kite and nearly sending them swimming, Hughes/Bowen (RS200) found themselves bearing down on the finish line side by side with May, who just managed to squeak over the line ahead.

Race 2 was however, the race of the Laser. After correction, Mudeford's Reid in his Radial took the honours, May securing 2nd followed by Christchurch's Acton (Laser 4.7), Highcliffe's Phelps (Radial) and Scott-Dalgleish (Radial) and Chirstchurch's Arnell (Finn).

With 2 races of 8 in the series complete, the leader board sees Stuart and Jade Bowen RS200 at the top, Peter May's Laser 2nd and Tim Reid's Radial 3rd. The next races will be held on 24th January, 7th February and 21st February.

Highcliffe Sailing club always welcomes new members and visitors and offers harbour and sea racing all year round. Further details can be found on www.highcliffesailing.co.uk or find us on Facebook.

Day 1 results:

Pos	Class	Sail No	Club	Helm	Crew	R1	R2
1st	RS200	371	Parkstone YC	Stewart Bowen	Jade Bowen	1	7
2nd	Laser	202523	Spinnaker	Peter May		6	2
3rd	Laser Radial	184297	Mudeford SC	Tim Reid		8	1
4th	Finn	28	Christchurch SC	Jack Arnell		4	6
5th	Finn	69	Keyhaven YC	Cy Grisley		2	9
6th	Finn	722	Keyhaven YC	Simon Vlax		3	11
7th	Laser 4.7	181810	Christchurch SC	Jack Acton		12	3
8th	Laser Radial	160012	Highcliffe SC	John Phelps		11	4
9th	Laser Radial	166441	Highcliffe SC	Ken Fowler		10	8
10th	RS200	422	Parkstone YC	Owain Hughes	Jude Bowen	9	10
11th	Laser Radial	208469	Highcliffe SC	Hamish Scott‑Dalgleish		16	5
12th	Finn	577	Keyhaven YC	Roddy Steel		5	17
13th	Solo	5377	Highcliffe SC	Steve Waite		7	20
14th	Laser Radial	160	Highcliffe SC	Lorrian Wells		15	12
15th	Scow	113	Christchurch SC	Andy Rushworth		20	13
16th	Laser 4.7	133482	Highcliffe SC	Charles Fowler		17	16
17th	Solo	5235	Highcliffe SC	Jonathan Rhodes		13	22
18th	RS Feva XL	430	Highcliffe SC	Alex Gibson	Jane Gibson	21	15
19th	Laser Radial	202963	Highcliffe SC	Graham Platt		23	14
20th	Laser Radial	190530	Highcliffe SC	Christine Jackson		14	DNF
21st	Laser Radial	91113	Highcliffe SC	Dave Burrows		19	19
22nd	Comet Duo	41	Highcliffe SC	Ian Pike	Sally Perry	18	21
23rd	Laser 4.7	143818	Highcliffe SC	David Horn		22	18
24th	Laser 4.7	32194	Highcliffe SC	Lauren Rogers		24	DNC