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2022 Frensham Frenzy

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

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:

PosClassSail NoHelmCrewClubPursuit 1Pursuit 2Pts
1stILCA6 (Laser Radial)217881Charlotte Videlo Frensham Pond SC134
2ndILCA6 (Laser Radial)200510Ian Gregory Frensham Pond SC224
3rdGP1414185Nick CraigToby LewisFrensham Burghfield516
4thRS Aero 51070Tristan Ahlheid Frensham Pond SC358
5thRS Aero 52077Tom Ahlheid Frensham Pond SC448
6thRS Aero 73597Peter Barton Lymington Town SC6713
7th20002190Sam PascoeBenjamin PascoeCastle Cove SC8614
8thILCA6 (Laser Radial)208996Rebecca Videlo Frensham Pond SC7815
9thILCA4 (Laser 4.7)174680Finlay Lomas‑Clarke Frensham Pond SC14923
10thILCA6 (Laser Radial)206251Rob Anstey Frensham Pond SC151025
11thGP1414253Maurice Cleal Wembley Sailing Club/welsh harp sailing131225
12thRS Aero 669Graham Tribbeck Lee‑On‑Solent Sailing Club121325
13thK1120Jeremy Hudson Frensham Pond SC161127
14th4MR163Megan Pascoe Frensham Pond SC171431
15thSolo5575Paul Trevan Frensham Pond SC221638
16thILCA6 (Laser Radial)180834Tom Flintham Frensham Pond SC211738
17thLark2540Nigel HuftonYasmin SfaxiFrensham Pond SC261541
18thRS100 8.4509Clive Eplett Frensham Pond SC9DNF50
19thILCA7 (Laser)209411Rob Beere Frensham Pond SC10DNF51
20thLark2528John BrickwoodVicky BrickwoodFrensham Pond SC11DNC52
21st4MR55Bruce Hill Frensham Pond SC18DNF59
22ndK1161Hilary King Frensham Pond SC19DNC60
23rdSolo4730John Brooker Frensham Pond SC20DNC61
24thILCA6 (Laser Radial)180637Kate Nevett Frensham Pond SC23DNC64
25thRS2001613Stefan BennettNicki YellandFrensham Pond SC24DNF65
26thGP1414265Kate Whyatt Frensham Pond SC25DNC66
27thSolo4700Tony Bull Frensham Pond SC27DNC68
28thEnterprise22656Roger CarterNeil RowattFrensham Pond SC28DNF69
29thSolo5280Dean Kettell Frensham Pond SC29DNC70
30thSolo4410John Townsley Frensham Pond SCDNFDNC82
30thRS Aero 73669Chris Rust Portsmouth Sailing ClubDNCDNC82
30thRS100 8.4250Martin Pascoe Castle Cove S CDNCDNC82
30th4MR90Mike Everitt Frensham Pond SCDNFDNF82
30th4MR143Kate Hedley Frensham Pond SCDNFDNC82
30thCadet8849Charlotte Noren‑TophamMiles HardyFrensham Pond SCDNFDNC82
30thGP1414149Tony Perkins Frensham Pond SCDNCDNC82
30thGP1414157Paul TrubridgeHilary BrownFrensham Pond SCDNCDNC82
30thGP1414180David Youll Frensham Pond SCDNFDNC82
30thGP1414234David Innes Frensham Pond SCDNCDNC82
30thLark2496Steve NetleyDNCDNC82

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