SAILING
Brading Haven YC
THE Frostbite Series probably lived up to its name last weekend as sailors braved the cold snap to compete.
The fast handicap course lasted for just 45 minutes, with Roger and Gill Herbert claiming line and corrected time honours in their Wayfarer. Martin Moore, 107 seconds behind, was second.
In the slow field, three Scows took the winning places with David Earee putting on the performance of a champion. Mike Quinn was second, with Chris Wilkinson a close third.
The following day, racing had a festive feel as the Christmas Cracker race took place, with fancy dress an option and decoration of dinghies compulsory, although some failed miserably.
In the fast handicap, Gareth Jones dominated the race in his Solo to take the winning gun with ease.
The fully loaded crew from Spinnaker Chandlery earned a well-deserved second place, with John Whitehead and Colette Twohig coming a very close third.
Once again, it was all Scows in the winning bunch of the slow handicap.
Barry Dyer held the lead from the start but not without strong attacks from Earee.
Across the line, it was Dyer to take the winning honours with Earee only 14 seconds behind in second.
There was plenty of close action for third spot however. Quinn and Wilkinson sailed neck and neck, with Quinn edging it in the final moments.
Bembridge SC
The Illusion Christmas Cracker weekend got off to a very cold start with frozen furlers, lines and cleats.
Nevertheless nine intrepid boats made it onto the water.
The race officer set a course in the corner of Bembridge Harbour, making for very shifty conditions and challenges for everybody.In the first race, Rudy Jurg took the gun with Piers Thomas second and his wife, Sue, third.
Mark Downer had an altercation with his wife at the top mark and needed to take penalty turns.
The second race was taken by Piers, with Mark winning the third race, with Sue second, and Piers, third. The following day’s conditions were very similar, with nine boats taking part again.
And again, there was some close racing, Mark, Rudy and Piers all wanting to take home the top prize.
In the first race, the leaders went all off to the left and places continuously changed, however on the third upwind beat, both Rudy, who was in the lead and closely followed by Mark, thought they had finished, but there was no gun.
The race officer had decided to send us around again but Piers had slipped through, noting that there was no finishing flag.
Eventually Mark finished second, with Rudy third.
Mark won the second race, with Piers winning the final race of the year, with Mark second, and Rudy, third.