Frostbite 8 – thanks again to Giles Gilbert for the report
In this penultimate race in the Frostbite series, 25 boats launched into Penzance Harbour to do battle in a 15 – 20 knot easterly. We enjoyed the company and commitment of our friends from Mounts Bay SC. The fleets consisted of 3 Mirrors, 6 Lasers, 6 Enterprises and 10 Handicap boats comprising of Osprey, Lark, Rs200, 420, Solo, Rs100 and a GP14.
The handicap boats left the start line first. Those with ambition tried, mostly in vain, to keep the venerable Ellerys in sight. Most notably, Ben Dayton who, lacking crew, sailed the 420 alone and despite not using the spinnaker, flew around the well trodden triangle, coming in second place, behind the Ellerys in the Osprey. Jeremy Williams fought hard and achieved a 3rd place on his magic carpet, the Solo.
Hallowed and vogueish, the Enterprises were dominated by the long standing, lightening fast duo, Simon Lees and Colin Stephens. Simon steered the blue shod freight-train through a Netherworld of darkness and cold into a better place, delivering his passenger, the silver bullet to his destiny. From way down in the turbulence left by the ravaging of the middle fleet, Martyn Curnow and Jeremy Stephens shifted out of the low ratios and into top gear. They forged down the run, swords in hand, slaying ent after ent to finish in second place. Nothing else is worthy of note.
Of the six Lasers, Joe Smith held off the better, albeit slower half of the fleet, only overshadowed by the MBSC giant Nick Stoten and Kian Andrews. In fantastic Laser conditions, they planed down the run and even enjoyed a second broad reach.
Eric Taylor and Aoife set the Mirror scene, leading the two others anti-clockwise, as was decided, around the course. Lloyd Williams and Demelza, in turn annihilated our Commodore, Dean Mooney who was left short handed and kite up. In spite of his predicament, Dean courageously persisted, occasionally crossing the wake of his victors to finish in 3rd place.
