Alton Water 2019 Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series - Week 7

At last we had near-perfect conditions for week 7 of this nine-week series; a gentle (no need for sausage roll fuel for Matt in his Phantom this week!) and slightly fickle, force 2-3 southerly which was forecast to veer to the south-west but actually backed slightly to a south south-easterly. It was sunny and mild and the only slight negative was that the wind being from anywhere in the south limits the length of the second windward leg.

Just over 60 boats turned out, a good number considering it was half-term and some were away, and with racing back on schedule after the previous weeks' three-race catch ups, two slightly longer than usual races were completed. As has happened regularly in this series, the large and very competitive Asymmetric fleet (18 RS200s, four RS800s, three 29ers and a Laser Vago) just couldn't contain their excitement at being on the water again after a week at work or school and had a general recall, starting under a black flag in the first race.

The wind increased slightly for the second race and the marks were shifted to reflect the slight change of direction and, although the layout of the course remained the same, three Laser sailors who were not concentrating (perhaps due to heatstroke, or at least bright sunshine), missed out a mark in the second race and subsequently retired. The shifty, fluctuating breeze meant that race wins were spread throughout the fleets this week, and no-one won both races in their fleet.

Dismasted RS200 during week 7 of the Alton Water Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series - photo © Tim Bees

The series leaders remain the same as last week apart from the Slow fleet where Alissa and Jorja Marshall have taken the lead in their RS Feva from Hazel Whittle and Gwen Thorogood in the Cadet.

Four races remain and the forecast for this Sunday looks good again.

We can reveal that after fourteen races, with results taken from the overall (not fleet) results of the top three performers from each club, the three highest-placed, battling it out to be top club are:
1st - Brightlingsea Sailing Club 275.5 points
2nd - Waldringfield Sailing Club 290.5 points
3rd - Alton Water Sports Centre 391.5 point

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

Tim Bees' photos can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/144523097@N07/albums/72157689779481133 and there are more photos on the Alton water Sailing Facebook page.

Week 7 Results - top three:

Series leaders after 14 races:

Spot your boat? - week 7 of the Alton Water Fox's Chandlery Frostbite Series - photo © Bill Hughes