PR Systems and B&G Icicle Series at Royal Western Yacht Club, England - Day 3
by Keith Davies 13 Dec 2021 05:08 NZDT
5 December 2021
On Sunday the 5th December races 7 and 8 of the PR Systems and B&G Icicle Series took place in what was forecast to be fantastic 20-25 kts of north westerly breeze.
However, the weather had different ideas by starting to clock around to the North East. After a short postponement the first race of the day was under way with a three lap windward-leeward between Dunstone in under Jenny Cliff down to Duke Rock near the eastern end of Plymouth Breakwater.
As the breeze started to clock back to the Northwest the race was shortened to two laps, with Al Fresco taking the race win, Jump N Shout in second with Sunfire taking third.
Race two saw a stable stiff breeze. The decision was taken to set a course with a leeward mark of East Tinker and a windward mark of Melampus giving the teams a choice of a beat either via the western entrance or the eastern entrance, with their choice to go left being the most beneficial.
By now the wind had increased and was gusting above 35 knots; on the final short beat up from F Buoy to West Mallard before the final reach one boat was knocked flat by a gust during a tack.
Al Fresco took the line honours but not the race win, loosing out to Jump N Shout in first, with Sunfire in Second. This week's wine went to Orbit. Things are certainly tight at the top with JNS and Al Fresco separated by only a point.
Thanks to Jerry Lock, Nicola Davies and Tina Lowe for the photos.
Series results can be found at www.halsail.com/Result/Public/57604