Freezer series A

Freezer Series A
Sunday 2nd October 2016
For the start of the Freezer Series, eight boats went afloat in very gusty conditions and a very lumpy sea.  The wind was coming from the North West and gusting 20 mph.  the first casualty of this race was Laser 165710 who broke his mast before the start of the Race but rather then retire was able to borrow a new mast and sail.
At the start of the race, three boats timed their start rather nicely and they were the 29er, the Laser 2000 and Laser Radial 42839.  Whilst the majority of the fleet sailed a course directly out to SP1, the 29er sailed parallel to he shore and this manouevre paid off as they got to SP1 first and after rounding SP2 and heading down toward SP3 had a commanding lead, the Laser 2000 has moved up into second place, rounded SP1 and SP2 and also heading toward SP3, whilst the Lasers have yet to round SP1.
The 29er has rounded SP3 and heading toward DM, once passing the DM, they will begin the second leg, the Laser 2000 with its blue spinnaker flying is sailing further in toward the shore, this move has allowed the Lasers to catch up, despite this the Laser 2000 still maintains second place.  Now on the second leg, with the 29er in pole position, Laser 2000 in second, Laser 130727 in third, Laser Radial 42839 in 4th, Laser Radial 172009 in  5th, Laser 42119 in 6th, Laser 182473 in 7th and Laser 4.7 14090 in 8th.
The 29er has rounded SP1 and SP2 and now has lapped a Laser on it's way down to SP3, across the water the fleet is quite well spread out now.  The Laser 2000 is now approaching SP3, rounded the mark and on to the beat, in the meantime the 29er is sailing up to SP1 and will be catching Laser 4.7 14096.
Just about to sail past the DM is Laser 130727, then Laser Radial 42839, Laser Radial 172009, Laser 182473.  The Race Officer has shortened the Course and the first boat to finish the Race is the Laser 4.7  9169.

​Results
1st 29er  1026 Michael Dyer and Samuel Dyer
2nd Laser 2000 22175 Laurie Dengate and Gary Danielwicz
3rd Laser Radial 42839 Olaf Throndsen

Race Two
The start sequence for the second race is underway and fleet has reduced in number.  As the boats cautiously approach the start line at the beginning of the race, it is Laser 130727 who cross the line first, then Laser 182473 followed by the Laser 2000, gaining momentum and going past all of them is the 29er, the Laser 2000 moves up into second place, then Laser 182473. 
Once again the 29er is coming further in whilst the rest of the fleet led by the Laser 2000 favour a course further out, it will be interesting to see who arrives at SP1 first, the Laser 2000 and the two Lasers are still heading out and it is the 29er who reaches SP1 first and is now en-route to SP2 . The two Lasers have tacked off closely followed by the Laser 2000, the Laser 2000 has had to put in another tack.  The 29er having rounded SP2 has raised the Red Spinnaker and is now flying down toward SP3.
The two Lasers are almost neck and neck and ahead of the Laser 2000, which is blasting down the course with blue spinnaker a flying.  In second place is Laser 182473 then Laser 130727 followed by the Laser 2000, then Laser Radial 42839 and Laser 42119.
Whilst the fleet are sailing a follow my leader formation behind Laser 182473, the 29er is way ahead as it sails along the shore line before tacking off toward SP1, the rest of the fleet are further out on their way up toward SP1.  Having rounded SP1 and then SP2, up goes the Red Spinnaker of the 29er as it heads off toward SP3.
Laser 182473 is holding on to second place but he is being challenged for this by the Laser 2000 who has its blue spinnaker flying and appears to have moved up into second place but this proves to be deceptive as the Laser has made it to SP3  and rounded the mark, the Laser 2000  is in third place  as it heads up toward SP3 but close behind is Laser Radial 42839, Laser 130727 is back in fifth following a capsize.
Laser 4.7 14090 is valiantly sailing her own race and has rounded SP1 and is about to round SP2, then off toward SP3 whilst the 29er has tacked and is heading up toward SP1.  In second place Laser 182473  is heading up toward SP1 and is still maintaining it's second place, however, the Laser 2000 has tacked down and has come further in.  Now Laser 182473 has rounded SP2 and on his way toward SP3.
The 29er is about to pass two Lasers as they fly around the course, but the Lasers have managed to stay ahead of the 29er and round SP3 before the 29er even though they are on a different leg to the 29er.
The Race Officer has shortened the course and first boat to finish is the 29er, then Laser Radial 42839 and Laser 130727.

Results
1st 29er 1026 Michael Dyer and Samuel Dyer
2nd Laser 182473 Colin Smith
3rd Laser Radial 42839 ​Olaf Throndsen

Report and photographs by Liz Smith.
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