Frensham Frenzy 2026 at Frensham Pond Sailing Club
by Megan Pascoe 4 Mar 09:45 GMT
1 March 2026
I was reading the list of Frensham Frenzy winners from the trophy on the Saturday before this year's Frenzy. There have been a wide variety of winners from OKs, Solos, 2.4mRs, ILCAs, Larks, Fevas and a Tera. This year, which we worked out was the 25th anniversary, the variety was there. This winter at Frensham has been wet and not overly windy, so it was nice on Sunday as we started March to have a good breeze, but yes it was still raining.
The Frenzy is two pursuit races with lunch in the middle, and a Frensham tea afterwards. The Race Officer, Andy Shorrock, set the usual Frensham knitting pattern course which sent most sailors scrabbling for a pencil as even the most hardened Frensham sailors find orienteering difficult. The Cadets start at 0 with Sam English and Mimi Windibank showing the fleet the way round. The Tera Pros aren't far behind with the 2.4s containing 2x winner Bruce Hill, all setting the early pace. There is a little break to the Solo, Europe, GP14, ILCA 6, Aero 5 group start. It was a busy start with Charlotte Videlo returning from Stokes Bay for the day in her ILCA 6 showing the group the way up the first beat. ILCA 7s have their own window to start in with former winner Luke Anstey joining for one race. A historical class of the Larks start with the newer Aero 7s followed close behind by the RS200 and Scorpion. The start is closed out by the big boys in the Phantom.
Being in the front of the Scorpion locked in a battle with Kat Gilbert/Jen Rust in the 200, and Andy Hicks/Vicky Brickwood, Nigel Hufton/Jenna Berry in the Larks I didn't see much of the race. There were a lot of kite hoists and drops and you do loose where you are after a few laps but there were some very nice planing reaches, which is rare on Frensham. Charlotte and Luke were moving through the field well, with Peter Barton from Lymington not far behind. Kat and Jen won the battle of the fast'ish boats beating Rob Anstey and myself in the Scorpion, with the two Larks not far behind. With two races and no discards everything is always to play for in the afternoon race.
After lunch the sun did come out briefly and the wind swung more into the SW, which is slightly more stable than a Southerly. Although the wind dropped as well, which made it a lot harder to read the beats. If you talk to the locals there are more stable directions than others but I fully understand why many wouldn't believe them. A change in course and the breeze lightening helped the slower boats with Bruce gaining a 4th. Sam and Mimi 7th and Arthur Mason from Lee on Solent in his Solo, 5th. Will Sadler in his ILCA 6 from Reading Sailing Club recovered from a slight hiccup in the first race with a 3rd. Each year we have a good contingent from Reading, including a Morbic 12. The battle up front was between Charlotte and Peter, and the second race and the overall win came down to inches not metres. Peter managed to win the race and after a few years of attendance took a well-deserved overall win.
Thanks to Chris Ellis it isn't a bad trophy to take home. It was a proper day of racing at Frensham and it was great to see everyone from the youngest to the oldest competing, and most managing both races. It's great racing on a small pond with amazing sailors and you can't take your eye off the wind for a second as it will bite you. But that is what makes sailing on Frensham great whether you are a novice or experienced. Special mention to Andrew Stainsby in his Phantom for having a great 2nd race, not capsizing and beating Justin Philips. He definitely had one of the biggest smiles of the afternoon as did Jono Baer and Alastair Muir-Wood in the RS200 showing that getting on the water themselves and racing their girls, Sophie and Hannah in the Cadet, is fun, even if they did capsize as they finished. Much to their girls amusement.
Next at the club we have Tera regional training and Cadet Open the following weekend. Safe to say the sailing season has definitely started.
Overall Results:
1st Aero 7, Peter Barton (Lymington Town SC) 4pts
2nd ILCA 6, Charlotte Videlo (Stokes Bay SC) 4pts
3rd RS200, Kat Gilbert/Jen Rust (FPSC) 10pts
4th Solo, Arthur Mason (Lee on Solent SC) 12pts
5th Scorpion, Rob Anstey/Megan Pascoe (FPSC) 13pts
6th Lark, Andy Hicks/Vicky Brickwood (FPSC) 15pts
1st Youth, ILCA 6, Will Sadler (Reading SC)
1st Junior, Cadet, Sam English/Mimi Windibank (FPSC)