BHYC Icebreaker series Sunday 19th February 2023

Published 22:16 on 24 Feb 2023

BHYC Icebreaker series

Blessed by the best day of the year so far, 25 dinghies assembled for their starts in the BHYC Icebreaker series. For all three fleets, the light westerly breeze meant a run down the harbour to 10A and a beat back to buoy 17. To make things a bit more interesting we started the first race by sending the fleets on a reach into the mark west of Fisherman's pontoon, giving two short reaches and a shorter run, with the long beat back. As the wind shifted to more of a north-westerly, we reversed the order for the second race to give a long broad reach down to 10A, a tuck into the Fisherman's buoy on the way back and a difficult beat back to 17 with some sneaky shifts.

In the Fast Handicap the fleet was joined in the first race by the Laser 4.7s who were being coached by Arthur and Tony. All raced well and got around in good times but were unable to catch the regulars, Martin Harrison and Isla Stone who came in 1st and 2nd respectively. Just these two dinghies for the second race which both boats completed in good time avoiding the worst of the ebb which punished the slower classes.

A good turnout for the Slow Handicap gave us nine starters in a mixed fleet. Hannah Yates in her Tera was on form in the first race beating the Picos on handicap to gain first place. In the second race, really close racing between the Picos meant there were just a few seconds between Mike Peddar and Phil Wright for 3rd and 4th places respectively, with Steve Kimpton gaining the Gold medal in this race and Ben Wood in Swan Scottie a very respectable second on handicap.

Fourteen Scows on the start line was always going to mean some hotly contested racing in this competitive fleet. 'Hysterical' was one spectator's comment at the rounding of the Leeward mark at 10A and the phrase 'Scow Sandwich' (thank you Rob) aptly described the antics at this mark. However, what was one person's demise was inevitably another's gain and some slid through to achieve good positions while the rest of the fleet sorted themselves out. Ben Smith gained a good win in the first race with Peter Giles second and, rarely seen in a Scow Martyn Davies, a tidy third place. What was supposed to be a relatively short second race turned into a bit of a slog with the falling breeze and the tide ebbing strongly. Dare Barry read the conditions perfectly and finished three and a half minutes ahead of the rest of the fleet. Another great race by Peter Giles gave him second place and Will Squibb pipped Ben Smith by just one second to give him third place.

A really lovely morning on the water with good cheer and beers afterwards. Thank you to both Ians for their invaluable assistance and as ever to the Patrol boat crews.

Anne Barlow RO

Last updated 15:28 on 11 May 2025