Icicle Series 2026 at Bough Beech Sailing Club - Day 7
by Nick Marden 18 Feb 13:02 GMT
4 January - 22 February 2026
Bough Beech Icicle Series day 7 © Sarah Seddon
The penultimate day of Bough Beech SC's Icicle series got off to a soggy start with rain persisting until the early afternoon. A Notice to Competitors warned that another attempt to sail the postponed Race 10 would be made after the lunch break.
The Force 2 Southerly forecast by wind apps duly filled in by the scheduled start time enabling Race Officer Nick Marden and his team to launch proceedings under the U flag. Fleets set off on a long opening beat towards the dam wall, the Conventional fleet sailing a quadrilateral course while the Asymmetric fleet tackled their customary windward-leeward.
In the Conventionals' first race, the top two places were taken by Snipes fresh from strong performances on the Sailjuice Series circuit. Matthew Wolstenholme and Sophie Wantling secured the win seconds ahead of Lloyd Roberts and Emma Preen. Duncan Lawson (ILCA 7) finished third, with Guy Marks and Sam Boniface (Wayfarer) fourth and Rob Gorrod (ILCA 7) fifth.
The shifty, weakening breeze prompted a shortened beat for the second race, but the wind continued to fade, leaving boats ghosting along in cold, drizzly conditions. Solos dominated, filling the top four places: Richard Southern led home from Jamie Clementson, John Clementson and James Hart, with Wolstenholme's Snipe in fifth. The slower boats were S-flagged after completing only one lap,.
In the Asymetric fleet's opener, sailing coaches Jonny Moss and Rich Sheridan (RS400) pulled sufficiently away from the rest from the rest to win. Paul Cullen and Verity Hopkins (RS200) were second — Cullen having already secured the overall series win in his 2000 had switched classes for the day — while Mike Green and Oscar placed third in another RS200. In their second race, Cullen and Hopkins went one better to win, followed by Mike Warwicker and Kate Fitzsimmons (RS200) and the RS400 of Moss/Sharidan.
Most people had had enough and packed their boats away at lunchtime but, as the wind appeared to have returned during the break ashore, a small hardcore of series leaders were keen to press ahead with the postponed Race 10.
It started with another course change to accommodate a forecast and apparent south westerly wind shift - which didn't last. Despite having only seven starters, both Wolstenholme and Patrick Ward (lying respectively second and third overall) were UFD'ed. Jamie Clemtson won on handicap from Eliot Marks (ILCA7) and John Clemtson.
Just four boats contested the Asymmetric start. Mike Green and Oscar edged out Warwicker and Fitzsimmons by half a foredeck, with Andrew Barnett and Lynne Ratcliffe (RS200) third.
As always thanks are due to club members supporting the running of this event both afloat and ashore, and particularly this day to the busy rescue/mark laying teams.
With two races remaining next week, the series leaders in both fleets are now beyond reach, but the battle for the remaining podium places remains unresolved. The wind apps suggest there might finally be more wind - but they did that this time last week too.