Seven boats headed out in very cold light wind conditions on Sunday 7th February. Dave Harrison and Harry Fiddler set two excellent courses and the racing was close and competitive throughout.
Icicle Series Results – Sign up for your Icicle Series Duty, contact duty@swsc.org.uk
Race Report
By Karl Pountney, Solo 4675
The conditions were cold, very cold. However, for the morning race 6 boats readied themselves for racing in light, but steady wind conditions.
From the start of the first race the fleet split in two. The fast handicap group of Mark Norman’s Phantom along with Duncan Wilson’s Phantom (crew Tim Browning) made quick progress to the windward mark. Behind the slow handicap group of Nick Jones (Solo), Karl Pountney (Solo), Kathryn McRitchie (Topper) and Peter Billington (Streaker) were close and swapping positions throughout the first beat. Kathryn’s Topper began to fall behind on the reaching legs. Karl and Nick managed to keep pace with a very quick Peter Billington but on the beat of the second lap Karl’s choice to use the right-hand side of the course left the way for Nick to slip through and gain a lead of several boat lengths
On the final lap, the Phantom appeared to have the race in the bag both on the water and on handicap. The Kestrel found the course had limited spinnaker possibilities and would have to wait to see what times the slow fleet would post.
On the final beat, Karl had closed the gap with Nick to just a boat length or two. Approaching the windward mark, Karl approached on port-tack pointing high and stealing back the difference. Nick approached on Starboard forcing Karl to either tack and shoot the mark above close hauled or take a chance on sneaking through on port and tacking on the mark. It was close, but too close. Forcing Nick to alter course, Karl had no choice to do turns and handed the race to Nick
At the finish, the positions were: 1. Mark Norman, 2. Peter Billington, 3. Duncan Wilson, 4. Nick Jones, 5. Karl Pountney, 6. Kathryn McRitchie.
Race 2 was almost a reverse of the previous course with what looked like (and was) a very long running leg down the lake. With the start-line so long, the whole fleet (now including Terry Van Rijn’s Rooster) hit the line on the gun.
The first beat was eventful with a port/startboard coming together of Terry Van Rijn and Duncan Wilson at the windward mark with Duncan coming away with penalty turns.
The long run gave Duncan the chance to claw back the lost time and eventually Duncan would take second from Terry on handicap.
The slow handicap boats were close for a while but eventually Peter and Karl were able to obtain a half-leg advantage over Nick that Nick wasn’t recover from in the failing wind. Karl was only 2 boat lengths behind Peter at the finish. However after they cleared the line both would be involved in a collision as the both boats raised their rudders at the same time. Fortunately, very little damage despite the loud bang
At the finish it was: 1. Mark Norman, 2. Duncan Wilson, 3. Terry Van Rijn.
Thanks must go to Dave and Harry excellent race management. Support Boat cover was provided by Charlotte Howard and Ian Howard. Galley, with its hot soup and Sausage/Chips, was laid-on by Sarah Norman.
It was Charlotte Howard’s 16th Birthday today. Everyone wishes her many happy returns.