Freeman Iceberg - Race 4- 28/11/2010

With a forcast of 9 to 10 knots from the north east, Grey overcast skies with a few tiny patches of blue but with a heavy frost on the ground – and ice in the boats – just 8 competetors prepared to take to the water. The actual breeze was nearer 3 knots before the boats went afloat just after a brief flurry of snow.
The first leg of the course was a beat along the northern side of the pond to the mark in the north east corner followed by a gybe onto a run to the next mark south of the Island. This was followed by another beat northwards and then a reach to a mark north east of the Island followed by a run to the south east corner of the pond. The final leg, leaving two other marks to starboard, was a close reach up the southern side of the pond to the finish point where the course had started.
First off the line was Paul Ryan (Laser full rig) with Jonty Freeman (Radial) close behind and then Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) and Michael Veale (RS 200) crewed by Mike Rosier. Alan Simmons (Streaker) was well off the line having failed to catch the start sequence sound signals and crossed behind the RS 200 and the full rig laser of Steve Duncan.
At the end of the first run Paul.R who was leading took the mark on the wrong side and as a result had three or four places to regain when he had rounded correctly. By the end of the first lap he was back in second spot just 6 seconds behind Jonty.F, the new leader, with Alan.S just another 3 seconds behind.
After two laps Paul.R was in front again with Steve.D some 30 seconds behind and Julian.D lying third whilst Alan.S was lying fourth. Jonty.F was just 5 seconds behind Alan and these two (Alan and Jonty) continued to tussle for the rest of the race.
Michael.V in the RS 200 could not make the boat go in the light breezes, which did build a little during the race, and he dropped back from an intial 5th place to 7th by the finish. The light stuff did not suit Callum Johnson (Pico) either and he was recorded in last place for each of the three laps he managed to complete, he is trying to convince his dad to get him a faster boat.
David Hitchens (Laser full rig) retired before completing three laps, almost certainly due to the freezing cold conditions, which left unprotected fingers extremely vulnerable. Chas Humphries (Laser full rig) soldiered on pulling up f4om 8th in lap one to 6th at the finish. One Laser, it is not clear which, did manage to lassoe the mark to the south east of the Island with his mainsheet – the mark held postion!

The main ‘excitement’ came in the last two laps when the battle between Alan.S and Jonty.F was joined once more. It was on the long close reach, in lap, 4 that Alan gained an inside overlap just before the final mark. It did not last long as Jonty found the breeze first but the same happened in the last lap at exactly the same point and Alan just pipped Jonty across the line. As an added bonus to this pair, Steve.D who had been lying in second place decided to head for the wrong mark mid lap and as a result of sailing a somewhat longer course ended up behind them in fourth spot.
Once the handicaps had been computed it was Alan.S who was declared the winner with Paul.R in second place and Jonty.F just adrift in third spot. Alan.S now heads the leader board for the series with Laurence Venus (Streaker) – who did not sail today in second position and Jonty.F in third.

Results (unofficial-provisional) :-
1st. Alan.S, 2nd. Paul.R, 3rd. Jonty.F, 4th. Steve.D, 5th. Julian.D, 6th. Chas.H, 7th. Michael.V, 8th. Callum.J, David.H - Retired.