Fox's Marine & Country Alton Water Frostbite Series - Day 2

Close racing in the Asymmetric fleet on day 2 of the Fox's Marine & Country Alton Water Frostbite Series © Steven Mitchell

Rigged and ready to go on day 2 of the Fox's Marine & Country Alton Water Frostbite Series © Emer Berry

There was a gentle start to the premier east coast (ok, sailed on inland water only a couple of miles away from the salty stuff) 2017 frostbite series.

With a scheduled start planned for Sunday 8th January to allow for the previous weekend's celebrations to subside and to fit with Bloody Mary and Grafham Grand Prix, we were all set to kick off the series but the prevailing light winds dropped overnight from F1 to zero, prompting an easy and agreeable decision to call off racing for the day. Boats were unloaded and entries completed in readiness for the next weekend (when following the Race Officer mantra – "we will have better days" and more on this later).

Racing proper was rescheduled for 15th January with three back to back races. With hindsight this was ambitious; it was better than the previous week in that we did get out on the water in a light and falling breeze and rain/sleet. With the wind from the S/SW a familiar two beat / one run course was set. The leg length gave a good spread to the fleet with room to sail but with longish lap times there was an unwelcome wait time to get the second race underway (though long enough for the fleets to lobby for no third race).

With a cold, wet and miserable 70 or so boats on the water and an even more miserable race team, race three was postponed (on the understanding that "we will get better days").

This first weekend of the frostbite did throw up a challenge, with the average laps and early finisher ruling, and the mathematician on the race committee is working on a proposal/solution for the coming week.

Best sailors on the day were Graham Ireland in his Laser, Dave Conlon/Sarah Bines in their RS200 and Richard Townley in his Topper with two wins from two starts.

In the absence of any Dragon boat interest and Stand Up (fall over) Paddle Boarders providing a spectacle this year, we focus on 'spot our rare (?) Slavonian visitor'.

Last year's entry limit of 120 series and 15 day sailors has encouraged early entrants but we still have some spaces. Come and join us.

Results after Day 2:

See www.altonwater.co.uk/index.php?pid=167&series=449&full_series_fleet=449 for full results.