Frozen Toes and Frostbite for sailors - but it's hotting up

By The Newsroom
Published 12th Dec 2016, 14:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 18:48 BST
Frozen Toe racing at Chi Yacht ClubFrozen Toe racing at Chi Yacht Club
Frozen Toe racing at Chi Yacht Club

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Chichester Yacht Club's Frozen Toe dinghy racing is under way for another winter.

Race officer Charles Porter set a trapezoid course and in the first race, the fast handicap fleet had a general recall as they all pressed the line and were caught out by the still rising tide which was dominating the light wind. The black flag restart saw them all away cleanly.

The wind picked up through the morning to a healthy 15-20 knots which made the second race a lot of fun. Porter signalled that the race would be extended to four laps, but in the end finished everyone after three.

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The second race had some great battles, with the now falling tide favouring those who chose the slacker water and hugged the shore near Copperas Point. Lots of tacking and position-swapping made for exciting racing.

The fast fleet enjoyed the planing downwind leg, with the 29er taking a wide asymetric route that saw it zipping expertly through the beating medium fleet.

The slow fleet was bolstered by a group of Toppers.

Special thanks went to all the volunteers that turned out for the early start, including members of the yacht section that helped.

Results - Fast Fleet: Race 4 winner Merlin Rocket 3724, Neale Jones and Jam Adams, Itchenor SC; Race 5 winner Merlin Rocket 3756, William Warren and Ben Clarke, Shoreham SC; Medium Fleet Race 4 and 5 winner Guy Mayer, Solo 5461, Felpham SC; Fleet 3, Topper 47685, Samuel Brackley, Felpham SC.

DELL QUAY

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