Pallot Windows Frostbite Series Race 3 report

by William Harris on 2 Dec 2010 The third race in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s Pallot Windows Frostbite Series was held on Sunday 28th November.

Frostbite by name and so it proved to be in practice with an icy light to moderate northeasterly breeze greeting the fleet as they turned out for the nine o’clock start. However, sunshine and slight seas were the order of the day, providing a welcome contrast to Saturday’s snow showers. The persisting icy road conditions were most likely responsible for the absence of a number of boats on the start line but fourteen boats made it, nevertheless.

With spinnakers hoisted, the class one fleet was first away with Rhys Perkins’ A35, Abracadabra, and Alex Ohlssohn and Neil Maclachlan’s J-109, Jai Ho, pulling away as they headed for the East Rock buoy and the gybe to take them into St Aubin’s Bay, the A35 going on to establish a lead that she held to take line honours some five minutes ahead of Jai Ho. John Smith’s Corby 33, Big Boy’s Toys, making her maiden appearance in a Frostbite race, finished third, just over a minute ahead of Werner Toporis’ J-105, Jubilee G. With three of the six races run, Abracadabra leads the series with four points, Jai Ho second with eight and David Jones’ First 34.7, Jackana, with nine.

The class two fleet started ten minutes after class one. Jeff Speller’s Farr 727, 2Farr, making an excellent start, was first off the line, leading the way to the East Rock buoy. Race one winner Less Xpense, Steve Pearl’s X-79, passed 2Farr on rounding the mark only to be overtaken by Dave Williams’ Conrad 760, Tom Bombadil who subsequently led the field, albeit hotly pursued, thereafter but finishing neck-and-neck with Less Xpense. The Conrad chalked up her second win with 2Farr coming second by one minute on corrected time and Less Xpense third some twenty seconds later. Tom Bombadil leads the series with four points, two points clear of Less Xpense whilst 2Farr lies third with eight points.

Starting with class two, three boats raced in class three. A fourth gave the others an hour’s head start when it appeared to come out for a ten o’clock start! Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata, Rondo of Cowes, made an excellent start but was duly overtaken by new-to-the-series Micmac, a Farr 727 racing with a Jersey Handicap, skippered by Julian Barber. With her lead safely established, Micmac went on to take line honours and the race finishing four minutes ahead of Rondo on corrected time. Mark Tucker’s Westerly Merlin, Lisia, was third. Rondo leads the series with six points, Lisia is second with nine whilst Kevin Holden’s UFO27, Matchless, lies third with twelve.

PRINCIPAL RESULTS

Class 1 – IRC
1 Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins & ptnrs (1.24.13)
2 Jai Ho – Alex Ohlssohn & Neil Maclachlan (1.28.34)
3 Big Boy’s Toys – John Smith (1.42.19)

Class 2 – IRC
1 Tom Bombadil – Dave Williams (0.56.32)
2 2Farr – Jeff Speller (0.57.37)
3 Less Xpense – Steve Pearl (0.57.53)

Class 3 – Jersey Handicap
1 Micmac – Julian Barber (1.03.08)
2 Rondo of Cowes – Chris Fritot (1.07.16)
3 Lisia – Mark Tucker (1.15.55)

The next race in the series is scheduled for Sunday 12th December, starting at nine o’clock. For detailed results, see www.rciyc.je

2011 Regatta diary dates:
· ninth-10th April – Connex Spring Regatta (www.rciyc.je)
· second-4th September - fourth Brewin Dolphin Jersey Regatta (www.jerseyregatta.com)