Pallot Windows Frostbite Series at Royal Channel Islands YC

by William Harris on 19 Jan 2012 Pallot Windows Frostbite Series fifth race of the six race event, hosted by Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, was held on Sunday 15th January in St Aubin’s Bay. Conditions were set fair for the nine o’clock start with sunshine and a fresh southeasterly breeze kicking up choppy seas within the Bay.

Just two boats sailed in the fast cruiser class, the small number not detracting from the fierce competition between David Jones’ First 34.7, Jackana, and Rhys Perkins and partners’ Archambault A35, Abracadabra. The first leg of the race took boats on a shy reach from the start line in the St Helier Harbour Small Roads to the Hinguette buoy before bearing away for a long spinnaker run dead downwind to the Race Mark just east of St Aubin’s Fort. Abracadabra, the faster boat, initially took up the lead but with Jackana constantly in contention, at one point passing the A35 on the beat to the final mark. This leg, from the Race Mark to the East Rock buoy, the final mark before heading for the finish line, saw maybe a dozen boat lengths separating the two with Abracadabra just holding onto her lead. Unfortunately for the A35 fate conspired to rob her of line honours as she was seen to stall due to a contrary spi hoist whilst Jackana sailed past to take line honours and the race convincingly on handicap. Jackana continues to lead the series by a winning margin with four wins to her credit out of five races.

Class two, as ever, produced the biggest turnout of the day with six boats on the line. This time, the race organisers and, no doubt, competitors, were delighted to welcome Jacques Minet’s St Malo-based Gwez Gwern to the fleet, having sailed up on Saturday, in near freezing temperatures, to give themselves a wintry outing and, in particular, to take part in the Frostbite. Gwez Gwern has raced in the British Airways Round Jersey, on several occasions, in August. Not quite the same thing!

True to form Steve Pearl’s X79, Less Xpense established an early lead with the fleet of quarter tonners, led by Dave Willams’ Conrad 760, Tom Bombadil, in hot pursuit. The X79’s transom has been a common sight to her rivals and she has proven to be a very difficult boat to beat although Tom Bombadil and Jeff Speller’s Farr 727 have each notched up a win against her during this series. Less Xpense sailed to take line honours and won the race, over two minutes clear of Tom Bombadil on corrected time with 2Farr third, after a brilliant spi run to the finish, just six seconds later.

Starting with the class two boats, Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata, Rondo, and Kevin Holden’s UFO27, Matchless, were the only class three boats to race. Rondo established a very early lead that she held to take line honours after an hour and three quarters’ racing. Rondo now has four wins to her credit, also putting her in an unassailable position.

The final race is scheduled for 29th January, starting at 0900 hours, to be followed by the place prize-giving and lunch in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, sponsored by Pallot Windows.

Results:
Class 1
1 Jackana – David Jones (1.38.55)
2 Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins & ptnrs (1.42.21)

Class 2
1 Less Xpense – Steve Pearl (1.16.25)
2 Tom Bombadil – Dave Williams (1.18.52)
3 2Farr – Jeff Speller (1.18.58)
4 Super Q – Julian Barber (1.20.36)
5 Gwez Gwern (Fr) – Jacques Minet (1.24.36)
6 Canders – Malcolm Hartigan (1.37.01)

Class 3
1 Rondo – Chris Fritot (1.28.59)
2 Matchless – Kevin Holden (1.38.45)

Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club website