Frostbite Series - Race 5 at Royal Channel Islands YC

by Bill Harris on 11 Jan 2013 Race five in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s seven race Pallot Windows Frostbite Series was held on Sunday 6th January. Starting conditions were somewhat kinder than the those of the previous race where boats had to be out for an 8.00 a.m. start in strong westerly winds and lumpy seas. On this occasion, a light southeasterly breeze and flat seas greeted boats as they came to the line for the 10.30 start.

The class one cruisers were away first from the yacht club line in the Small Roads with David Jones’ and Guy Pipon’s First 34.6, Jackana, taking the lead from the start, ahead of Rhys Perkins’ and Partners’ Archambault 35, Abracadabra. This proved to be a very rewarding race for Jackana who added not only a fourth win to her tally but, for the first time, line honours too, finishing four minutes ahead of Abracadabra in real time. Alan Stevens’ First 44.7, Zanzibar, helmed by Nigel Coxshall was third. With two races to go, Jackana is well clear in the series with four points against Abracadabra’s ten.

Starting together and sailing a shorter course, classes two and three were off the line at 10.40 with Steve Pearl’s X79, Less Xpense, taking an early lead ahead of the quarter tonners, led by Jeff Speller’s Farr 727, 2Farr, that make up the bulk of the class two fleet. Less Xpense was seen to be well ahead as she started on the second leg to the Balleine buoy and the die seemed to be cast. However, tactics were all in the light conditions and, whilst Less Xpense, once again took line honours, it was 2Farr that pulled out all the stops to win the race by eight seconds on corrected time with Peter Crabb’s and Peter Williams’ Starflash, Jackflash, three minutes behind on corrected time. Less Xpense and 2Farr are neck- and-neck in the series, each with nine points whilst Jackflash has eleven. Julian Barber’s Farr 727, Super Q, is fourth with thirteen.

Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata, Rondo, took an early lead in class three with Tom Vallois’ Sonata, Moonlight Sonata, in hot pursuit. It proved to be very much the Sonatas’ race with Rondo taking line honours ahead of Moonlight Sonata, to come first and second on corrected time, respectively. Mark Tucker’s Westerly Merlin, Lisia, was third, easing Sean Scarsbrook’s mini-tonner, Miss Mischief into fourth place on corrected time. Rondo leads the series with nine points to Lisia’s eleven. Moonlight Sonata lies third with twelve and Miss Mischief fourth with fourteen.

There is, clearly, much excitement in store as, with two races to run, we build to towards the finish of the series. It is noteworthy that there have been no individual recalls at all during the series; an inordinate respect for the line? The next race is scheduled for 20th January, starting at 10.30 a.m.

Results – Race 5 and series points

Class 1

1 Jackana – David Jones and Guy Pipon (1.26.59) (4)
2 Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins and Partners (1.33.21) (10)
3 Zanzibar – Nigel Coxshall (1.41.27) (14)
4 Big Boys’ Toys – John Smith (2.07.57) (13)
5 Gemini – Clive de la Cour (2.17.44) (19)

Class 2

1 2 Farr – Jeff Speller (00.59.37) (9)
2 Less Xpense – Steve Pearl (00.59.45) (9)
3 Jackflash – Peter Crabb and Peter Williams (1.02.46) (11)
4 Super Q – Julian Barber (1.06.46) (13)
5 MicMac – Darren Stower (1.14.08) (22)
6 Canders – Joyce Barber (1.26.27) (24)

Class 3

1 Rondo – Chris Fritot (1.19.15) (9)
2 Moonlight Sonata – Tom Vallois (1.26.38) (12)
3 Lisia – Mark Tucker (1.35.34) (11)
4 Miss Mischief – Sean Scarsbrook (1.36.44) (14)
5 Boy Blew – James Wilding (1.46.28) (20)