Freeport Marine Frostbite Series - Jersey

by Bill Harris on 29 Jan 2007
Westerly winds, gusting to thirty-eight knots, greeted the brave few that turned out for the final race in Jersey's Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club's Freeport Marine Frostbite Series held on Sunday 21 January.

The hitherto strong showing had dwindled to four boats, partly because of the blustery conditions but a number of eager skippers had found themselves locked in the Elizabeth Marina due to the storm gate having been closed as a precautionary measure. Consequently, the race committee, operating from the St Helier YC starters' hut, was not short of assistance as frustrated skippers and crews gathered to watch the start. No doubt the minds of some had turned to thoughts of 'redress'!

With the Channel 18 automatic wind system continuing to give winds averaging more than thirty knots, the committee delayed the start by thirty minutes, in the hope that the forecast decrease would arrive soon. Their wish was granted as the wind dropped away to a little over twenty knots for the rescheduled start and the committee got the race away without any further difficulty, albeit with just three IRC cruiser/racers and one club handicap boat on the start line.

With victory very much on their minds, the Sugden partnership's ILC30, Toybox, once again took an early lead but with last year's winner, the Pipon/Williams J92, Jammin', in very close company and Vince Smith's Laser 28, Shasa, also maintaining contact. Kevin Holden's UFO27, Matchless, starting with the IRC boats, was destined to sail a lonely race in the club handicap class, but not without reward.

However, the wind had not given up entirely and was soon delivering gusts to well over thirty knots by the time the small fleet arrived at the East Rock buoy, the first mark of the course, and the beat into St Aubin's Bay. Sea conditions deteriorated, once out of the shelter of the Elizabeth Castle breakwater and Shasa decided to give it best and headed for home. Jammin' kept very close contact with arch-rival Toybox around the course in the Bay but the combination of a big sea and gust during the gybe on the Ruaudiere buoy saw the end of her mainsail and she, too, headed for home leaving Toybox to complete the course with Matchless bringing the series to a close some forty-five minutes later.

With four wins in a row, Toybox, took the series in the IRC class with four points, Jammin' second with seven and Shasa third with twelve.

With Bruce Harland's Mustang 30, Cavallo, and the Le Maistre/Perkins Farr 727 Genie already assured of first and second places, with five and eight points respectively, they could safely study the weather from shoreside. However, Matchless' foray was just what was needed for her to edge the Weeks/Petra Starlight 30, Cassiopeia, into fourth place, clinching third overall with thirteen points.

Allen Brown and partners' Melges 24, The Dog's ........! won in the sportsboat class with six points, ahead of Ben Rogers' J80 Chilli Jam on ten.

The prizegiving was held in the RCIYC club-house, following the race, when Mr Nick Rice, General Manager of Freeport Marine, presented trophies and shirts prior to a very well attended lunch also sponsored by Freeport.

For full details, visit www.rciyc.org

A diary note:
The 9th Jersey Regatta, sponsored by Jersey Telecom, CIT Estates, Jersey Tourism and Jersey Harbours, and open to sportsboats, cruiser/racers, dayboats, sport-catamarans and dinghies, is scheduled for 7 - 9 September. Of special note ... The RCYC's UK Quarter Ton Fleet is coming to race in the Regatta!