WHILE the opening race of eight in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s Pallot Glass & Windows Frostbite Series ran successfully in St Aubin’s Bay in October, the strong winds experienced in November led to the postponement of the two races scheduled for that month.
Sailing boats certainly need wind but there comes a time when discretion takes first place. Those two races will be run in February ahead of the club’s annual prize-giving scheduled for 24 February.
Thankfully, the Frostbite Series’ fortunes changed for December, with a very successful race completed at the beginning of the month, albeit in somewhat “brisk” conditions. Strong southerly winds and moderate seas throughout the race made for quite challenging sailing, a good test of boats and all those aboard.
For race three, held last weekend, sailors enjoyed brilliant conditions at last.A gentle southerly force three breeze, sunshine and slight seas provided the perfect setting.
However, an early high water meant an early start for all, crews and race committee, alike. While 20 boats have entered this ever-green series, 12 actually came to the line for this race.
One can only assume that the Christmas spirit had taken its toll. Not so, though, for skipper Florent Le Sage of the Société Nautique de la Baie de St Malo, who sailed his boat, Elendyl, from St Malo to take part in the race.
Following a postponed start due to a shipping movement, the race got under way at 9.15 with Allen Brown & partners’ Melges 24, The Dog’s, establishing an early lead that she held to the finish, returning the best time in the IRC sportsboat and cruiser fleet but having to give way to quarter tonners Conrad 760 Tom Bombadil and Farr 727 Fahrenheit, both of which pipped her on corrected time.
David Carter’s Sunfast 3200, Lady Penelope, had an excellent race to finish well ahead in the combined cruiser class with Elendyl, an Omega 34, impressively clinching second ahead of Robin Jenkins’ First 31.7, Jack Rabbit. A pretty good result for the French boat.
Competition within the quarter ton class is always tough with, excuse the pun, no quarter given in this close-knit fleet.
Steve Pearl and partners’ Tom Bombadil took the race by just nine seconds ahead of Justin Horton and partners’ Fahrenheit. Julian Barber’s Super Q was third. Honours in the YTC fleet went to Nick O’Hare’s Honky Tonk, Westerly Fulmar, in the spinnaker class while Rachael and Mike Smith took the ‘white sail’ race with their Egythene 24, Sombrero.
The next race in the series is scheduled for 14 January, with boats invited to enter through the notice of race at rciyc.je/racing.
Race three results:
Class 0 + 1
The Dog’s – Allen Brown & partners (1.35.12)
Class 1 + 2
Lady Penelope – David Carter (1.39.08)
Elendyl – Florent Le Sage (1.43.06) (1st Class 2)
Jack Rabbit – Robin Jenkins (1.46.27) (2nd Class 2)
Morrina IV – Peter Funk (1.55.19)
Class Q
Tom Bombadil – Steve Pearl & Partners (1.34.54)
Fahrenheit – Team Fahrenheit (1.35.03)
Super Q – Team Super Q (1.35.28)
Mic Mac – Team Mic Mac (1.43.36)
Class 3a (Spinnaker)
Honky Tonk – Nick O’Hare (2.04.53)
Foxhound – Don Thompson (2.38.30)
Class 3b (White sail)
Sombrero – Mike & Rachael Smith (2.10.26)
Ruby – Paul Raimbault (2.33.41)
