Channel Islands Frostbite report

by William Harris on 18 Nov 2006
A near record number of boats turned out for the first race in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s annual Freeport Marine Frostbite Series on Sunday morning. Sailing conditions were excellent, if a little brisk at times, with a strong north-westerly wind averaging nineteen knots, gusting to thirty. With the racing area being in the lee of the land, the sea conditions were but slight to moderate with no appreciable swell.

The IRC sportboat and IRC cruiser/racer classes were first off the St Helier YC start line, in the Small Roads to St Helier Harbour, at 9.30 with a down-wind start, providing the opportunity for many boats to run down to the line under spinnaker.

Last year’s IRC cruiser/racer class winner, the Pipon/Williams J92, Jammin’, timed it just right and pulled away quickly from the pack with the Benest/Fellows Ker 11.3, Voodoo Doll, closing fast as they headed off to the Hinguette buoy and the subsequent long beat to the St Aubin’s Race Mark.

Line honours went to the powerful Voodoo Doll after an hour and half’s racing with Ben Rogers’ J80, Chilli Jam, the sole runner in the sportboat class, finishing second, having put in the best time for an IRC boat on corrected time. Victory, however, went to Jammin’, finishing just seventeen seconds ahead of Vince Smith’s Laser 28, Shasa, on corrected time. Voodoo Doll had to be content with a close third. Ten boats raced in the IRC cruiser/racer class and it is clear that future races are going to be keenly fought in this very competitive class.

The eleven-strong club handicap fleet, starting ten minutes later than the IRC classes, saw Kevin Holden’s Matchless make a perfect start to lead the fleet off the line with Ian Jones’ new Bénéteau 317, Gingazing and Bruce Harland’s Mustang 30, Cavallo, hot on her heels. An early spi hoist gave Cavallo the advantage and found her rounding the Hinguette buoy ahead of the fleet.

However, in the course of the long beat to the Race Mark, Gingazing eased ahead to be first round the mark and to hold the lead for the remainder of the race, finishing some fourteen seconds ahead of Cavallo.

Cavallo won the race by a little under four minutes on corrected time with Gingazing taking a creditable second on her first time out. The Farr 727, Genie, skippered by John Le Maistre, was always in contention but, having finished third, had to settle for third place on handicap too.

The next race in the series takes place on 26 November; entry forms are available from the RCIYC and on www.rciyc.org.

Results:

IRC Sportboat class
1 Chilli Jam B Rogers 1.33.25

IRC Cruiser/racer
1 Jammin’ G Pipon & P Williams 1.36.10
2 Shasa V Smith 1.36.27
3 Voodoo Doll S Benest & S Fellows 1.37.32
4 Xtravaganza R Perkins & Ptnrs 1.41.01
5 Jackana D Jones 1.41.48
6 Jubilee G N Guenier 1.42.03
7 Jaya of Jersey N Maclachlan & A Ohlsson 1.45.38
8 X2C B Milner 1.47.42
9 Cordon Bleu S Taylor 1.48.26
10 Jungle Fever J Chinn 1.51.55

RCH Club Cruiser/racer
1 Cavallo B Harland 1.38.35
2 Gingazing I Jones 1.42.11
3 Genie J Le Maistre 1.43.35
4 Lisia M Tucker 1.45.10
5 Optimum W Toporis 1.45.39
6 Cassiopeia C Weeks 1.49.21
7 Warrior A Pitter 1.49.46
8 Canders S Scarsbrook 1.53.53
9 Matchless K Holden 1.59.01
10 Starbound C Norman 2.01.59
11 Starry Night – did not finish

Full details are available on www.rciyc.org