The ever-popular frostbite series got under way on Sunday, with an entry of 14 Flying Fifteens. In a beautiful sunny day, the winds were westerly and shifty, but race officer Ian Matthews and his team got in two excellent races.
Many crews had high expectations after a good showing at the East Coast Championships the previous weekend, so the racing was more keenly contested than normal.
Race 1: the pin end was favoured but there appeared to be more wind on the right, so it was important to be able to get to the right side of the course. Ciaran & Frank led at the first mark, followed closely by Alan Dooley & Joe ,with Chris and Alan Green in third.
By the second lap, Alan Dooley was ahead, followed by Chris, with a gap back to Ciaran and Niall &Nikki. At the leeward mark the race was shortened, and in the race to the finish Chris just managed to pip Alan on the line. Niall and Nikki were third, just beating Ciaran on the line.
Race 2: Again the pin end favoured and Ciaran &Frank were quickly out of the blocks, while others were looking for wind and playing the shifts they went straight into the shore and came out at the weather mark well in front, a lead they were to hold onto to the finish.
The battle was for the minor places, with Niall Coleman in second and Chris in third, despite the gap being closed downwind, Niall held on upwind to take a comfortable second.
Niall and Nikki were fourth, the most consistent boat of the day!
