Brading Haven Yacht Club Open Icebreaker Series 2022 - Overall
by Polly Schafer 21 Mar 2022 05:58 PDT
20 March 2022
Brading Haven Yacht Club Icebreaker Series prize winners with Commodore Jeff Cowan © Polly Schafer
There were perfect conditions on Sunday 20th March for the last two races of the Icebreaker Series at Brading Haven.
The sun was shining and the wind was blowing a Force 4 from an easterly direction. It meant that in the first race, a long windward beat to Buoy 10A could be set followed by a run down to Buoy 14 with reaches to buoy Y, in the harbour, and then to Buoy 17. The Fast handicap had to complete four rounds whilst the Slow Handicap and the Scows completed two. Twenty three dinghies took to the water.
Stuart Gummer in his Devoitte sped out in front closely pursued by the Lasers of Harry White and Charlie White with Kristian Schafer also in the mix.
Phil Wright in his Pico (Racing Sail) took command in the Slow Handicap, with Dawn Bee, also in a Pico (Racing Sail) just behind. Alec Ridgewell, the up and coming cadet maintained his position in third, sailing his Tera Pro.
In the Scows, Martin Palmer took an early lead. Meanwhile, Paul Gould and Chris Wilkinson battled it out as they rounded Buoy 17. Jodie Spence took advantage and came in second.
In the second race, the same course was given to the Fast Handicap although it was shortened to two rounds. The Slow Handicap and Scows course was altered so instead of Buoy 10A, they went to Buoy 12 but they still had to complete two rounds.
In the Fast Handicap, Tony Burton in the Aero 9 challenged Stuart Gummer for the lead and was first over the line by exactly one minute. However it was the Lasers who triumphed on handicap.
In the Slow Handicap, Phil Wright led the way with Dawn Bee coming in second followed closely by Catherine Brading Palmer in her Pico (Training sail).
Buoy 17 proved tricky again for the Scows and eventually defeated Chris Wilkinson who retired. Martin Palmer commanded the field whilst Jodie Spence came in second followed by Paul Gould.
This was the last event in the series. Eight out of the twelve races scheduled were sailed as two weekends were affected by storms.
Series Results:
Fast Handicap
1. Harry White,(Royal Victoria Yacht Club)
2. Charlie White, (Royal Victoria Yacht Club)
3. Kristian Schafer (Brading Haven)
Slow Handicap
1. Phil Wright (Gurnard Sailing Club)
2. Dawn Bee (Gurnard Sailing Club)
3. Catherine Brading Palmer (Yarmouth Sailing Club)
Scows
1. Martin Palmer (Yarmouth Sailing Club)
2. Jodie Spence (Brading Haven)
3. Paul Gould (Brading Haven)
Thank you to all the visiting sailors for making this series so exciting. Thank you also to all of the volunteers who have supported the Icebreaker Series,