2022 Frensham Frenzy
by Clive Eplett 9 Mar 2022 11:38 GMT
6 March 2022
2022 Frensham Frenzy © Clive Eplett
The kids are alright
You've got a love it when the Frenzy delivers a bit of a frenzy. This year the weather delivered; sunny day, a mostly planing breeze from broadly the NE, the Pond's nicest direction. What's not to like? Well, warm it was not. How come, no matter how many layers you take off whilst enjoying lunch, when you put them, and more, back on and step outside again, it's shivering-time?
But so what? A minute's silence after the briefing, in recognition of the suffering of, and atrocities against, the people of Ukraine rather put things in context. Many also sailed with yellow armbands as a small gesture of their support for Ukraine.
The Frenzy comprises two pursuit races, 90-plus minutes for the early-starters, 60-plus for the fastest PYs, using 8 marks around the pond; lots of mark-roundings and opportunities to get confused about where to go next. Certainly, there's no time to relax.
Race 1
First away were Charlotte Noren-Topham and Miles Hardy in their Cadet, a gap, then the four 2.4mR, another gap and in short order the majority of the remainder of the fleet. Then, at quarter passed Tuesday (or so it feels) we RS100's are set free.
Commodore Megan Pascoe led the way early, but in ideal dinghy-planing conditions, a lead keel is not your friend and it was only 30 sailing minutes in before Charlotte Videlo hit the front in her ILCA6/Laser Radial, having gained a jump on Ian Gregory in his. These two were never really threatened. Ian is never anything other than relentless, but Charlotte was more than up to the challenge and deserved her comfortable bullet.
The chasing pack comprised an intriguing battle between the Aero5s of brothers Tristan and Tom Ahlheid and Nick Craig/Toby Lewis in their GP, with the una-rigs gaining downwind and the GP upwind. With the wind swinging during the race, making the beats a bit one-sided, the GP's upwind options were perhaps a bit limited. Whatever, the final order was Tristan, Tom, then Nick/Tobytastic, followed by Peter Barton in an Aero7 and Rebecca Videlo's ILCA6.
Race 1 mention-in-despatches though, goes to none of this lot, but to Benjamin Pascoe, aged all of five-years-old and crewing dad, Sam, in a Laser 2000, finishing eighth. Was the kite going up every time? Too right it was.
Meantime, boats with more sail-area made little impression, whether it be a Lark, ILCA7/Standard, K1 or RS100. It felt like a struggle to make any progress.
Race 2
After a good lunch, Race Officer Andy Shorrock shifted the course, re-squaring up the beats. The same suspects were to the fore again, but this time Finlay Lomas-Clarke in an ILCA4 was in the mix early on too. Charlotte was first to pass Megan's 2.4mR, 25 minutes in, but this time could not shake off Ian, Nick/Tobytastic or the Ahlheid brothers. It was all very tight between these five, with places changing up and down wind until Nick/Toby and Charlotte finally escaped the others, meaning Charlotte was looking good to win the event.
But it's truly not over until it's over on the pond. With a leg and a half remaining, Charlotte missed her toestraps in a tack, capsized, swam back to the boat faster than Ian Thorpe being chased by a ravenous great white shark, righted and set off in chase of Ian and the Aeros (other boy-bands are available). Ashore, father Keith was in "I can't look" Eeyore mode. Have faith dear boy, adrenaline is powerful stuff. On the final run, Charlotte hit the turbo button, getting back past the Aeros to take third, behind Nick/Toby and Ian.
This left Ian and Charlotte tied on 4 points, with the latter taking the event on countback. Nick/Toby's bullet was enough to cement third.
But is there any tension like sibling rivalry? Tom finished a boat length or two ahead of younger brother Tristan for fourth. Nevertheless, Tristan's 3,5 trumped Tom's 4,4 for fourth overall. There's a saying "show me good loser and I'll show you a loser". On that basis, the gracious but clearly unhappy Tom, just like his brother, will go far.
So what did we learn?
- All that training pays. Charlotte's win was well deserved, against some strong opposition
- Never give up. It is possible to recover from defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory to actual victory
- Maybe your correspondent is truly getting old, but a new generation seems to be coming to the fore. Great to see. (Mind you, I still think of Mr Craig as a youngster)
- Choose your weapon wisely
- Check your drysuit is done up properly (no names, no pack drill), particularly if you are going to go swimming
Prizes were awarded as follows:
- First, first lady, first youth 16-24, Charlotte Videlo, ILCA6
- Second and first Grand Master (45-64), Ian Gregory, ILCA6
- Third, Nick Craig and Toby Lewis, GP14
- Fourth and first youth 15 and under, Tristan Ahlheid, Aero5
- Fifth, Tom Ahlheid, Aero5
- Sixth, Peter Barton, Aero7
- First family Sam and Benjamin/Martin Pascoe, 7th overall, Laser2000
- First Great Grand Master, Maurice Chiel and un-named crew 11th overall, GP14
- Endeavour, Tom Flintham, ILCA6
Next year's Frenzy will again take place on the Sunday following the Dinghy Show. Put it in the diary.
Overall Results:
Pos | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | Pursuit 1 | Pursuit 2 | Pts |
1st | ILCA6 (Laser Radial) | 217881 | Charlotte Videlo | | Frensham Pond SC | 1 | 3 | 4 |
2nd | ILCA6 (Laser Radial) | 200510 | Ian Gregory | | Frensham Pond SC | 2 | 2 | 4 |
3rd | GP14 | 14185 | Nick Craig | Toby Lewis | Frensham Burghfield | 5 | 1 | 6 |
4th | RS Aero 5 | 1070 | Tristan Ahlheid | | Frensham Pond SC | 3 | 5 | 8 |
5th | RS Aero 5 | 2077 | Tom Ahlheid | | Frensham Pond SC | 4 | 4 | 8 |
6th | RS Aero 7 | 3597 | Peter Barton | | Lymington Town SC | 6 | 7 | 13 |
7th | 2000 | 2190 | Sam Pascoe | Benjamin Pascoe | Castle Cove SC | 8 | 6 | 14 |
8th | ILCA6 (Laser Radial) | 208996 | Rebecca Videlo | | Frensham Pond SC | 7 | 8 | 15 |
9th | ILCA4 (Laser 4.7) | 174680 | Finlay Lomas‑Clarke | | Frensham Pond SC | 14 | 9 | 23 |
10th | ILCA6 (Laser Radial) | 206251 | Rob Anstey | | Frensham Pond SC | 15 | 10 | 25 |
11th | GP14 | 14253 | Maurice Cleal | | Wembley Sailing Club/welsh harp sailing | 13 | 12 | 25 |
12th | RS Aero 6 | 69 | Graham Tribbeck | | Lee‑On‑Solent Sailing Club | 12 | 13 | 25 |
13th | K1 | 120 | Jeremy Hudson | | Frensham Pond SC | 16 | 11 | 27 |
14th | 4MR | 163 | Megan Pascoe | | Frensham Pond SC | 17 | 14 | 31 |
15th | Solo | 5575 | Paul Trevan | | Frensham Pond SC | 22 | 16 | 38 |
16th | ILCA6 (Laser Radial) | 180834 | Tom Flintham | | Frensham Pond SC | 21 | 17 | 38 |
17th | Lark | 2540 | Nigel Hufton | Yasmin Sfaxi | Frensham Pond SC | 26 | 15 | 41 |
18th | RS100 8.4 | 509 | Clive Eplett | | Frensham Pond SC | 9 | DNF | 50 |
19th | ILCA7 (Laser) | 209411 | Rob Beere | | Frensham Pond SC | 10 | DNF | 51 |
20th | Lark | 2528 | John Brickwood | Vicky Brickwood | Frensham Pond SC | 11 | DNC | 52 |
21st | 4MR | 55 | Bruce Hill | | Frensham Pond SC | 18 | DNF | 59 |
22nd | K1 | 161 | Hilary King | | Frensham Pond SC | 19 | DNC | 60 |
23rd | Solo | 4730 | John Brooker | | Frensham Pond SC | 20 | DNC | 61 |
24th | ILCA6 (Laser Radial) | 180637 | Kate Nevett | | Frensham Pond SC | 23 | DNC | 64 |
25th | RS200 | 1613 | Stefan Bennett | Nicki Yelland | Frensham Pond SC | 24 | DNF | 65 |
26th | GP14 | 14265 | Kate Whyatt | | Frensham Pond SC | 25 | DNC | 66 |
27th | Solo | 4700 | Tony Bull | | Frensham Pond SC | 27 | DNC | 68 |
28th | Enterprise | 22656 | Roger Carter | Neil Rowatt | Frensham Pond SC | 28 | DNF | 69 |
29th | Solo | 5280 | Dean Kettell | | Frensham Pond SC | 29 | DNC | 70 |
30th | Solo | 4410 | John Townsley | | Frensham Pond SC | DNF | DNC | 82 |
30th | RS Aero 7 | 3669 | Chris Rust | | Portsmouth Sailing Club | DNC | DNC | 82 |
30th | RS100 8.4 | 250 | Martin Pascoe | | Castle Cove S C | DNC | DNC | 82 |
30th | 4MR | 90 | Mike Everitt | | Frensham Pond SC | DNF | DNF | 82 |
30th | 4MR | 143 | Kate Hedley | | Frensham Pond SC | DNF | DNC | 82 |
30th | Cadet | 8849 | Charlotte Noren‑Topham | Miles Hardy | Frensham Pond SC | DNF | DNC | 82 |
30th | GP14 | 14149 | Tony Perkins | | Frensham Pond SC | DNC | DNC | 82 |
30th | GP14 | 14157 | Paul Trubridge | Hilary Brown | Frensham Pond SC | DNC | DNC | 82 |
30th | GP14 | 14180 | David Youll | | Frensham Pond SC | DNF | DNC | 82 |
30th | GP14 | 14234 | David Innes | | Frensham Pond SC | DNC | DNC | 82 |
30th | Lark | 2496 | Steve | | Netley | DNC | DNC | 82 |