ICEBREAKER 9 10 SUNDAY 2ND MARCH 2025 SPONSORED BY WIGHTKNUCKLE

Published 22:33 on 12 Mar 2025

A light but steady north easterly breeze on a lovely early spring day with plenty of sunshine gave great sailing in the harbour for all 21 dinghies in the three classes starting from the Club line.
Just two in the Fast Handicap class. Bruce Mayo really had the advantage in the light wind with his Aero 6 rig over Andy Squibb's Laser. Both boats made good beats down to 10A and fast runs back to H. However, it soon became clear that the proposed four rounds was a step too far, so we shortened to two laps with Bruce coming in after 37 minutes and Andy at 44 minutes. Positions remained the same after adjustment for handicap.
Apologies from the Race Officer for the over-short second race. We should have given you two laps but fear of wind dropping meant just once round for these two boats. Both completed in around 20 minutes with Bruce's Aero6 again taking first place. Sensibly, both boats took themselves off for further sailing on this lovely afternoon.

A good turnout of eight boats for the Slow Handicap fleet saw the Duncan Bates in Swan 11 leading the field in race 1, his nearest rival being Martin Palmer in Swan27. Tilly Everett split the fleet in her Laser 4.7, coming in third over the line but losing out on handicap to Ben Wood in Swan 22. Just one lap of the same windward/leeward course for race 2 saw Martin Palmer with his daughter Laura finally seeing off Duncan Bates for a well-deserved win in this competitive fleet.
Phil Wright is hanging on to second place overall but with just one point now separating 2nd and 3rd, there is all to sail for in the final races. Exciting racing as always in the Scow fleet with eleven participants in this class. An excellent start from Francesca Morgan saw her leading the fleet until the final couple of hundred metres, when her old adversary Martyn Davis took advantage of a decent puff of wind and pulled ahead at the turning mark H for a close victory.

A repeat of the same course for race 2 saw Davis with a clear lead. However, some excitement for 2nd and 3rd places with Sarah Jane sailing her race of the winter to pip Pete Giles by just two seconds to gain silver medal position.
So lovely to be able to sit out on the terrace with our drinks in the sunshine and discuss tactics after racing with good mates. Exactly what our crazy sport is all about. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers, Murray and Neil in Lobster, Crisso, and Tod in Sceptre, and ARO Ian.

Anne, RO

Big thank you to Wight Knuckle Brewery for sponsor this event www.wightknucklebrewery.com

Last updated 22:33 on 12 March 2025