RCIYC Frostbite Series - Racing action on St Aubin’s Bay

by Bill Harris on 7 Feb 2013 The last race in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s annual Pallot Windows Frostbite Series was held in St Aubin’s Bay on Sunday, 2nd February. With a well-established fresh to strong westerly breeze blowing, competitors were assured of a fairly boisterous sail in fairly choppy conditions, happily in the lee of the land bearing in mind that some had been partying at the RCIYC Annual Dinner the night before. Notwithstanding any after effects, fourteen boats came to the line for the nine o’clock start in the Small Roads leading to St Helier Harbour.

First away were the class 1 boats with Rhys Perkins and partners’ Archambault 35, Abracadabra, hotly pursued by David Jones and Guy Pipon’s First 34.7, Jackana, performing what was in effect a victory parade, having accumulated five wins in five races thus far. However, not resting on her laurels, Jackana pressed Abracadabra hard throughout what proved to be an exhilarating race.

The A35’s transom was in constant view and it seemed as though she would, at least, take line honours. However, on approaching the East Rock buoy, the penultimate mark, Jackana proved to be the slicker boat on rounding, leaving Abracadabra in her wake as she headed for the finish line and her sixth victory in the series. With five second places to her credit, Abracadabra was a very worthy runner up whilst John Smith’s Corby 33, Big Boys’ Toys, was third overall.

Classes two and three were sent on their way ten minutes after class 1 with Steve Pearl’s X79, Less Expense establishing an early lead in the class 2 fleet that she held throughout the race with the fleet of quarter ton boats, led by Jeff Speller’s Farr 727, 2Farr, and Julian Barber’s Farr 727, Super Q in constant contention. Sailing a slightly shorter course than the bigger boats, racing was no less exciting for these boats with much setting, trimming and dropping of spinnakers in the gusty breeze. Exciting, however, would not be a word that would immediately spring to the lips of the crew on Darren Stower’s Farr 727, MicMac, that found herself overwhelmed during a broach as she went for a spinnaker hoist on the final leg across St Aubin’s Bay.

This saw the crew swimming and the boat quickly submerged but with a motor boat immediately on hand to recover them from the cold waters of the Bay. (MicMac was recovered the following day by Jersey Harbours staff, using the tug Duke of Normandy). Less Xpense once again took line honours and her third win with 2Farr second just eight seconds ahead of Super Q. Less Xpense thus notches up another overall win in the Frostbite with 2Farr second and Super Q third overall.

Four boats raced in class three, sailing the same course as the faster class two boats. Competition has been no less intense in this class with Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata, Rondo, Mark Tucker’s Westerly Merlin, Lisia, and Sean Scarsbrook’s mini-tonner, Miss Mischief, all vying for the top spot. On this occasion, it was Miss Mischief that pulled out all the stops to take line honours but finishing just one second ahead of Rondo on corrected time. However, Lisia had also been having a good race until she diverted to go to MicMac’s assistance, only re-joining the race once the crew were safe. With a three minutes time allowance applied to her finishing time, Lisia was happy to notch up her second win in the series. With four wins to her credit, Rondo won the series ahead of Lisia with Miss Mischief third.

Mr Werner Toporis, representing Pallot Windows, presented the prizes at a post-race lunch held in the RCIYC. The news that Pallot Windows will sponsor the next Frostbite Series was greeted with much applause and appreciation. Commodore Sandra Carroll concluded the prize-giving by thanking Pallot Windows and all those who had taken part in such a successful series.

Diary dates (see www.rciycjersey.com):

29th March – RCIYC Commodore’s Cup Race from Jersey to St Malo on Friday 29th March
18th - 19th May – RCIYC Spring Regatta
13th – 15th September – Combined Clubs’ UBS Jersey Regatta (www.jerseyregatta.com)

Pallot Windows Frostbite Series – Results and series points

Race 7 - Class 1

1 Jackana - David Jones and Guy Pipon (1.16.28) (5)
2 Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins and partners (1.19.06) (10)
3 Big Boys’ Toys – John Smith (1.22.24) (16)
Zanzibar – Nigel Coxshall (DNS) (19)
Gemini – Clive de la Cour (DNF) (27)

Class 2

1 Less Xpense – Steve Pearl (00.56.21) (8)
2 2Farr – Jeff Speller (00.58.07) (11)
3 Super Q – Julian Barber (00.58.15) (14)
4 Runaway Bus – Tom Hill (1.00.28) (31)
5 Jackflash – Peter Crabb and Peter Williams (1.00.51) (15)
Micmac – Darren Stower (DNF) (36)

Class 3

1 Lisia – Mark Tucker (1.03.53) (11)
2 Miss Mischief – Sean Scarsbrook (1.04.37) (15)
3 Rondo – Chris Fritot (1.04.38) (7)
4 Boy Blew – James Wilding (1.18.24) (23)
Moonlight Sonata – Tom Vallois (DNS) (22)
Poc’Han – Nick Querée (DNS) (22)