Alton Water 2019 Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series - Week 4

No racing, just blasting, on week 4 of the Alton Water Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series © Emer Berry

No racing, just blasting, on week 4 of the Alton Water Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series © Emer Berry

Well, we all knew what the wind was going to do this week didn't we? It was a bright day but with a bitterly cold, fresh north-westerly breeze, gusting up to 30 to 40 knots. A good number of competitors turned up but no-one was in any hurry to rig their boat or get changed.

The race officer came ashore having been out on the water laying the race marks and quickly gauging the reluctance of the competitors, decided that no racing would take place. No-one complained and the café did a roaring trade in hot drinks, as people hung around enjoying the ambiance.

A few hardy younger sailors took to the water in Toppers, mostly reefed, and RS Teras, several taking a dip at some point, and a couple of windsurfers and the young crew of an RS200 showed the warm spectators in the café how it should be done. Committee Boat crew Emer was pleased that at least some people took to the water, even if not to race, as it gave her a chance to try out her new camera.

Three races are planned this Sunday and the following one, weather, wind and ice permitting, to catch up on the schedule.

Full results of the series so far can be found at www.altonwater.co.uk/index.php?pid=167&series=480&full_series_fleet=480

Series leaders after six races: