2016 Pallot Glass and Windows Frostbite Series overall

by William Harris on 11 Feb 2016 Running from the beginning of November, the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s annual Pallot Glass and Windows Frostbite Series of races in St Aubin’s Bay came to a close on Sunday 31st January, a day marked by one of the many gales that have been the principal feature of our winter, to date. The day was to have seen the sixth and final race in the series but the wind and sea state were such that the race committee decided to abandon racing.

Notwithstanding the abandonment, the turnout for the final lunch was very well attended, bringing this ever-popular event to a close.

For the first time in the long history of the Frostbite Series, most races saw all four classes starting together. This was a popular move on the race committee’s part, providing competing boats in different classes with an opportunity to race in an, effectively, larger fleet than they would otherwise have done.

Allen Brown and partners’ Melges 24, The Dog’s ……..!, the sole representative in the sportsboat class, Class 0, put in the fastest time against the Class one boats in two of the three races in which they competed, to be pipped by David Jones’ and Guy Pipon’s First 34.7, Jackana in the fifth race. Jackana was the top performer in cruiser Class one, winning four of the five races from Rhys Perkins and partners’ Abracadabra, second.

Julian Barber’s Farr 727 pulled four wins out of the hat to be a clear winner in Class two, but the results showed a fierce tussle for second spot between Helen Barker’s Arbitrator and Jeff Speller’s 2Farr, both boats also Farr 727s. 2Farr had won race two, but a no-show in the second race in November massacred her overall score to put her just one point behind Arbitrator. Having missed the first two races, in favour of racing his Hobie Wildcat in the Rosscot Hobie Winter Series, Darren Stower was fourth, sailing the Projection 762, Crumpet, with co-owner Rachel Morris.

Never too far behind the bigger boats, Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata, Rondo, had an impressive clean sweep in Class three. Ollie Mourant and Andrew Brown’s Starflash, Jackflash, took second with the smallest boat in the fleet, Sean Scarsbrook’s mini-tonner Miss Mischief, third.

The Pallot Glass and Windows Frostbite Series trophies were awarded at the Club’s annual dinner and prize-giving, held at the Royal Yacht Hotel on Saturday, 6th February. The trophies were presented by Route du Rhum winner and Vendée Globe entrant, Phil Sharp, whilst Commodore Darren Stower thanked the sponsors and Ports of Jersey for all the support provided to the Club in running this keenly fought event.

The next racing in the Club’s calendar will be the first two races in the Rosscot Hobie Spring Series, being held in St Aubin’s Bay. The Commodore’s Cup and Cook Salver Races to St Malo are scheduled for Good Friday, 25th March.