SAILINGTHERE seems to be a great interest in Brading Haven Yacht Club’s Icicle Series this year, with a great turnout of slow handicap dinghies every fortnight.
Last weekend John Carter took over as race officer, setting a course inside of Bembridge Harbour, with two separate races under his control.
Conditions lived up to the name of the series with an extremely cold wind and after all the competitors had smashed the ice inside their boats, the race was on.
Race number one began with the larger boats taking the lead and the smaller ones following in their wash. First boat home was the Pico of cadet member Izzy McInnes, to take line honours, but she was fourth on handicap.
This left the winning spot to Marten Springett sailing his Heron, with the RS Tera of Phil Wright in second place and Chris Wilkinson third in his Scow.
Race two proved to be very close with the majority of boats keeping in a very tight bunch.
This time, Wright broke away from the fleet on the final round to cross the winning line, taking both line and handicap hours of 92 seconds ahead of Wilkinson in second place.