2022 Frensham Frenzy

by Clive Eplett 9 Mar 03:38 PST 6 March 2022

The kids are alright

You've got a love it when the Frenzy delivers a bit of a frenzy. This year the weather delivered; sunny day, a mostly planing breeze from broadly the NE, the Pond's nicest direction. What's not to like? Well, warm it was not. How come, no matter how many layers you take off whilst enjoying lunch, when you put them, and more, back on and step outside again, it's shivering-time?

But so what? A minute's silence after the briefing, in recognition of the suffering of, and atrocities against, the people of Ukraine rather put things in context. Many also sailed with yellow armbands as a small gesture of their support for Ukraine.

The Frenzy comprises two pursuit races, 90-plus minutes for the early-starters, 60-plus for the fastest PYs, using 8 marks around the pond; lots of mark-roundings and opportunities to get confused about where to go next. Certainly, there's no time to relax.

Race 1

First away were Charlotte Noren-Topham and Miles Hardy in their Cadet, a gap, then the four 2.4mR, another gap and in short order the majority of the remainder of the fleet. Then, at quarter passed Tuesday (or so it feels) we RS100's are set free.

Commodore Megan Pascoe led the way early, but in ideal dinghy-planing conditions, a lead keel is not your friend and it was only 30 sailing minutes in before Charlotte Videlo hit the front in her ILCA6/Laser Radial, having gained a jump on Ian Gregory in his. These two were never really threatened. Ian is never anything other than relentless, but Charlotte was more than up to the challenge and deserved her comfortable bullet.

The chasing pack comprised an intriguing battle between the Aero5s of brothers Tristan and Tom Ahlheid and Nick Craig/Toby Lewis in their GP, with the una-rigs gaining downwind and the GP upwind. With the wind swinging during the race, making the beats a bit one-sided, the GP's upwind options were perhaps a bit limited. Whatever, the final order was Tristan, Tom, then Nick/Tobytastic, followed by Peter Barton in an Aero7 and Rebecca Videlo's ILCA6.

Race 1 mention-in-despatches though, goes to none of this lot, but to Benjamin Pascoe, aged all of five-years-old and crewing dad, Sam, in a Laser 2000, finishing eighth. Was the kite going up every time? Too right it was.

Meantime, boats with more sail-area made little impression, whether it be a Lark, ILCA7/Standard, K1 or RS100. It felt like a struggle to make any progress.

Race 2

After a good lunch, Race Officer Andy Shorrock shifted the course, re-squaring up the beats. The same suspects were to the fore again, but this time Finlay Lomas-Clarke in an ILCA4 was in the mix early on too. Charlotte was first to pass Megan's 2.4mR, 25 minutes in, but this time could not shake off Ian, Nick/Tobytastic or the Ahlheid brothers. It was all very tight between these five, with places changing up and down wind until Nick/Toby and Charlotte finally escaped the others, meaning Charlotte was looking good to win the event.

But it's truly not over until it's over on the pond. With a leg and a half remaining, Charlotte missed her toestraps in a tack, capsized, swam back to the boat faster than Ian Thorpe being chased by a ravenous great white shark, righted and set off in chase of Ian and the Aeros (other boy-bands are available). Ashore, father Keith was in "I can't look" Eeyore mode. Have faith dear boy, adrenaline is powerful stuff. On the final run, Charlotte hit the turbo button, getting back past the Aeros to take third, behind Nick/Toby and Ian.

This left Ian and Charlotte tied on 4 points, with the latter taking the event on countback. Nick/Toby's bullet was enough to cement third.

But is there any tension like sibling rivalry? Tom finished a boat length or two ahead of younger brother Tristan for fourth. Nevertheless, Tristan's 3,5 trumped Tom's 4,4 for fourth overall. There's a saying "show me good loser and I'll show you a loser". On that basis, the gracious but clearly unhappy Tom, just like his brother, will go far.

So what did we learn?

• All that training pays. Charlotte's win was well deserved, against some strong opposition
• Never give up. It is possible to recover from defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory to actual victory
• Maybe your correspondent is truly getting old, but a new generation seems to be coming to the fore. Great to see. (Mind you, I still think of Mr Craig as a youngster)
• Choose your weapon wisely
• Check your drysuit is done up properly (no names, no pack drill), particularly if you are going to go swimming

Prizes were awarded as follows:

• First, first lady, first youth 16-24, Charlotte Videlo, ILCA6
• Second and first Grand Master (45-64), Ian Gregory, ILCA6
• Third, Nick Craig and Toby Lewis, GP14
• Fourth and first youth 15 and under, Tristan Ahlheid, Aero5
• Fifth, Tom Ahlheid, Aero5
• Sixth, Peter Barton, Aero7
• First family Sam and Benjamin/Martin Pascoe, 7th overall, Laser2000
• First Great Grand Master, Maurice Chiel and un-named crew 11th overall, GP14
• Endeavour, Tom Flintham, ILCA6

Next year's Frenzy will again take place on the Sunday following the Dinghy Show. Put it in the diary.

Overall Results:

Pos	Class	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	Pursuit 1	Pursuit 2	Pts
1st	ILCA6 (Laser Radial)	217881	Charlotte Videlo		Frensham Pond SC	1	3	4
2nd	ILCA6 (Laser Radial)	200510	Ian Gregory		Frensham Pond SC	2	2	4
3rd	GP14	14185	Nick Craig	Toby Lewis	Frensham Burghfield	5	1	6
4th	RS Aero 5	1070	Tristan Ahlheid		Frensham Pond SC	3	5	8
5th	RS Aero 5	2077	Tom Ahlheid		Frensham Pond SC	4	4	8
6th	RS Aero 7	3597	Peter Barton		Lymington Town SC	6	7	13
7th	2000	2190	Sam Pascoe	Benjamin Pascoe	Castle Cove SC	8	6	14
8th	ILCA6 (Laser Radial)	208996	Rebecca Videlo		Frensham Pond SC	7	8	15
9th	ILCA4 (Laser 4.7)	174680	Finlay Lomas‑Clarke		Frensham Pond SC	14	9	23
10th	ILCA6 (Laser Radial)	206251	Rob Anstey		Frensham Pond SC	15	10	25
11th	GP14	14253	Maurice Cleal		Wembley Sailing Club/welsh harp sailing	13	12	25
12th	RS Aero 6	69	Graham Tribbeck		Lee‑On‑Solent Sailing Club	12	13	25
13th	K1	120	Jeremy Hudson		Frensham Pond SC	16	11	27
14th	4MR	163	Megan Pascoe		Frensham Pond SC	17	14	31
15th	Solo	5575	Paul Trevan		Frensham Pond SC	22	16	38
16th	ILCA6 (Laser Radial)	180834	Tom Flintham		Frensham Pond SC	21	17	38
17th	Lark	2540	Nigel Hufton	Yasmin Sfaxi	Frensham Pond SC	26	15	41
18th	RS100 8.4	509	Clive Eplett		Frensham Pond SC	9	DNF	50
19th	ILCA7 (Laser)	209411	Rob Beere		Frensham Pond SC	10	DNF	51
20th	Lark	2528	John Brickwood	Vicky Brickwood	Frensham Pond SC	11	DNC	52
21st	4MR	55	Bruce Hill		Frensham Pond SC	18	DNF	59
22nd	K1	161	Hilary King		Frensham Pond SC	19	DNC	60
23rd	Solo	4730	John Brooker		Frensham Pond SC	20	DNC	61
24th	ILCA6 (Laser Radial)	180637	Kate Nevett		Frensham Pond SC	23	DNC	64
25th	RS200	1613	Stefan Bennett	Nicki Yelland	Frensham Pond SC	24	DNF	65
26th	GP14	14265	Kate Whyatt		Frensham Pond SC	25	DNC	66
27th	Solo	4700	Tony Bull		Frensham Pond SC	27	DNC	68
28th	Enterprise	22656	Roger Carter	Neil Rowatt	Frensham Pond SC	28	DNF	69
29th	Solo	5280	Dean Kettell		Frensham Pond SC	29	DNC	70
30th	Solo	4410	John Townsley		Frensham Pond SC	DNF	DNC	82
30th	RS Aero 7	3669	Chris Rust		Portsmouth Sailing Club	DNC	DNC	82
30th	RS100 8.4	250	Martin Pascoe		Castle Cove S C	DNC	DNC	82
30th	4MR	90	Mike Everitt		Frensham Pond SC	DNF	DNF	82
30th	4MR	143	Kate Hedley		Frensham Pond SC	DNF	DNC	82
30th	Cadet	8849	Charlotte Noren‑Topham	Miles Hardy	Frensham Pond SC	DNF	DNC	82
30th	GP14	14149	Tony Perkins		Frensham Pond SC	DNC	DNC	82
30th	GP14	14157	Paul Trubridge	Hilary Brown	Frensham Pond SC	DNC	DNC	82
30th	GP14	14180	David Youll		Frensham Pond SC	DNF	DNC	82
30th	GP14	14234	David Innes		Frensham Pond SC	DNC	DNC	82
30th	Lark	2496	Steve		Netley	DNC	DNC	82