Cadets at the Alton Water 2023 Fox's Chandlery & Anglian Water Frostbite Series Weeks 1 & 2
by Rhona Enkel 19 Jan 22:05 PST
8 January 2023
Alton Water Frostbite Series Week 1 © Tim Bees
A keen set of Cadet sailors joined the dedicated adult cohort for the reinstated Alton Water Frostbite series. Milder temperatures than pre Christmas with more than enough wind to dislodge any holiday cobwebs greeted those prepared to leave the warmth of their beds.
Week 1 (8th January)
It was a day for swimming with some eventful capsizes witnessed by those parents watching from the shore. Those that managed to recover and finish repeated their positions in race 2. A hard lesson for Daniel Ringland with Josh Dye, James Bailey with Eliza Card and Alex Enkel with Jude Baldock who were unable to continue to the finish. This didn't deter the helms with Daniel and Josh unsuccessfully repeating their race 1 performance and James and Alex pairing up for race 2.
A good start to the new series with Evan Harris with James Vellacott taking the two bullets followed by Rhona Enkel with Sophie Ringland, George Cox-Olliff with George Letts, Tom Krailing with Ella Edwards and James Bailey with Alex Enkel securing the 5th in race 2. All in all a great start to the New Year, roll on week 2.
Week 2 (15th January)
A hardy group of cadet sailor returned to Alton water, after a packed Saturday of training, for the second week of the Alton Water Frostbite Series. This week brought more of the same blustery weather with more frequent gusts and Alton's signature shifty winds.
There was a slight change to the planed starts for races 3 and 4 with only two fleets, leaving the slower cadets on their own. Alex Enkel and Jude Baldock did not venture to the start area as they reached backwards and forwards from the shore to improve their team boat handling skills. Rhona Enkel and Sophie Ringland took an early lead followed by George Cox-Olliff with Oli Walker, Tom Krailing with Ella Edwards and Kali Karaskas with Lewis Walker. However after a forestay mishap Tom & Ella needed to return to shore alongside Daniel Ringland with Josh Dye after a cold dip. This left Oscar Bush and Emily Krailing with an open opportunity to catch up to second after their late start.
Race 4 was much of the same with Daniel Ringland returning to the race course with Alex Enkel crewing and Tom & Ella now with a secure forestay. A slight change to results with a second for George & Oli with the new team Daniel & Alex coming third, a fourth for Oscar & Emily, Tom & Ella securing fifth and Kali & Lewis coming sixth. All credit to RO Martin for the shorter race, appreciated by the freezing sailors.