Pallot Windows Frostbite Series – Race 5

by William Harris on 13 Jan 2011 The penultimate race in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s Pallot Windows Frostbite series was held in brilliant conditions on Sunday, 9th January. The downside for crews was the 0830 start, even more so for the race committee who were obliged to lay a temporary mark to replace the St Aubin’s Bay West Mark that had wandered off to parts unknown. The morning dawned bright and mild with a moderate westerly breeze and only slight seas, conditions that were to provide excellent racing for all.

Following a ten minute postponement, due to a commercial shipping movement, the Class 1 cruisers were sent on their way under white sails to the East Rock buoy. Werner Toporis’ J-105, Jubilee G made a good start but it was David Jones’ First 34.7, Jackana that was first at the mark with the A35, Abracadabra, skippered by Mike de Figueiredo, and Alex Ohlsson and Neil Maclachlan’s J-109, Jai Ho, hot on her tail. These latter three boats maintained close contact throughout the beat to the west mark with Abracadabra easing ahead on the run to gybe at the Ruaudiere buoy. This manoeuvre proved to be the most rewarding from a spectator’s point of view with a lot of bustle, shouts of ‘protest’ and more than a hint of a broach or two. Jackana was seen to be sailing bareheaded to the Balleine buoy, the leeward mark, shortly after the gybe, losing her valuable time as the results were to show. Abracadabra and Jai Ho stayed in very close contact throughout the remainder of the race with Jai Ho going on to take line honours, sixteen seconds ahead of Abracadabra with Jackana exactly two minutes back. Jai Ho took the race but Abracadabra still leads the series by just one point. The protest lodged by Jai Ho against Abracadabra was subsequently withdrawn.

At the second attempt, the Class 2 and 3 fleets started at 0900, sailing a slightly shorter course than Class 1, the gybe mark being the Diamond buoy rather than the Ruaudiere. Jeff Speller’s Farr 727 was first to the East Rock closely followed by Dave Williams’ Conrad 760, Tom Bombadil, and Steve Pearl’s X-79, Less Xpense. The X-79 slipped past the leaders on the beat to the West Mark and had established a handsome lead by the time she arrived at the Diamond buoy and the gybe. 2Farr followed with Tom Bombadil still further back. Less Xpense went on to take line honours and win the race by three minutes on corrected time. Tom Bombadil had managed to pass 2Farr during the latter stages of the race to take second place with 2Farr having to settle for another third. Series-wise, Less Xpense and Tom Bombadil are level pegging with eight points each whilst 2Farr lies third with fourteen.

Kevin Holden’s UFO27, Matchless, led the way to the first mark in the Class 3 fleet, followed by Mark Tucker’s Westerly Merlin, Lisia, and Jason Lees-Baker’s Bavaria 340, Argo Navis. Argo Navis eased past both boats to take the lead that she held to the finish, despite being constantly challenged by David Hall’s First 27.7, Vamos. However, it was to be Chris Fritot’s day, once more. Sailing his Hunter Sonata, Rondo, he chalked up his third win in the series, beating Matchless by just less than two minutes on corrected time with Lisia some four minutes behind. This puts Rondo in an unassailable position, leading the series with eight points whilst Lisia has sixteen against Matchless’ seventeen.

The final race then will be really exciting with the top spot remaining open in both Classes One and Two with a battle for second place in Class Three. This takes place on Sunday, 23rd January, starting at 0830 to be followed by the prizegiving and lunch in the RCIYC. Exciting times, indeed!

Class 1
1. Jai Ho – Alex Ohlsson & Neil Maclachlan (1.06.36)
2. Abracadabra – Mike de Figueiredo (1.07.28)
3. Jackana – David Jones (1.08.07)
4. Jubilee G – Werner Toporis (1.14.57)

Class 2
1. Less Xpense – Steve Pearl (1.02.59)
2. Tom Bombadil – Dave Williams (1.05.42)
3. 2Farr – Jeff Speller (1.06.24)
4. Super Q – Julian Barber (1.07.23)
5. Genie – Charles Perkins (1.12.42)

Class 3
1. Rondo – Chris Fritot (1.17.49)
2. Matchless – Kevin Holden (1.19.33)
3. Lisia – Mark Tucker (1.23.34)
4. Argo Navis – Jason Lees-Baker (1.23.54)
5. Vamos – David Hall (1.26.51)

Overall after 5 races (top three positions only)

Class 1
1. Abracadabra (9)
2. Jai Ho (10)
3. Jackana (14)

Class 2
1. Less Xpense (8)
2. Tom Bombadil (8)
3. 2Farr (14)

Class 3
1. Rondo (8)
2. Lisia (16)
3. Matchless (17)

Important diary dates:

For sportsboat, cruiser, dayboat, sport-catamaran and dinghy classes:
9th-10th April – Connex Spring Regatta website
2nd-4th September – fourth Brewin Dolphin Jersey Regatta website