The final two races in the Dell Quay Sailing Club Frostbite series were blessed by a force three to four wind which, with the bright sunshine, made for almost-ideal sailing conditions despite the temperature being only a few degrees above freezing.
The start of the first race saw Bill Dawber (Solo) get away to a good start to take the lead up the first beat, but Edward Thorburn (Finn) from Newhaven and Seaford SC was able take advantage of an increase in wind strength to regain the lead and sai
l away to finish well ahead of the fleet.
Second home were Warwick and Ben Hoddy (Laser 2000) but they were pushed into third place on corrected time by Bill Dawber in his Solo, with Malcolm Buchanan (Solo) fourth.
The result meant Thorburn had regained the series lead from Dawber, the overall leader after race ten.
The outcome of the series depended on the last race and Thorburn needed to build a sufficient lead over the Solos to win on handicap, but, as the wind dropped back to force three, the Solos were in their element.
Following close in Thorburn's wake, Dawber and the second Solo, sailed by Roger Millet from CYC, pushed Thorburn back into third place on corrected time with the Hoddys finishing fourth.
The result clinched the series for Dawber, who had achieved six first places in the 12-race series.
Third place overall went to Malcolm Buchanan (Solo), who finished just one-and-a-half points ahead of Toby Hamer (Topper) from Langstone SC in fourth.
This year's Frostbite series has proved popular, attracting an entry of 25 boats, including six visitors.
Dinghy racing will resume at Dell Quay with the eight-race Barclay Easter Egg Trophy starting on Saturday, April 3, after the spectacle of the cruiser lift-in on Good Friday.
Frostbite Series results: 1 Bill Dawber (Solo) Dell Quay SC, 2 Edward Thorburn (Finn) Newhaven and Seaford SC; 3 Malcolm Buchanan (Solo) Dell Quay SC.
Junior results: 1 (4th overall) Toby Hamer (Topper) Langstone SC, 2 (9th overall) Chloe Atkins and Beckie Manning (RS Feva)
Dell Quay SC.
