The Downs SC trio of Richard White, Chris Dutton and John Cass won the team prize at the Hoo Freezer race held on the River Medway on Sunday with Richard White and Martyn Styles also claiming fourth place overall. This event is one of the premier winter dinghy sailing events and attracted 74 entries from around the country. In contrast to previous years, the weather was kind with mild temperatures and a light winds for both days. On Saturday, the practise race was dominated by the Merlin Rockets from Whitstable YC, but Chris Dutton and Claire Hansell, sailing a Buzz, put in a good performance to claim 5th place after recovering from a mediocre start. The main event took place on Sunday, the wind remained light, but swung around to the North bringing with it some colder air. Richard White and Martyn Styles, sailing an RS400 started with the fast handicap fleet and kept ahead of the other RS400s to claim fourth place. The two Buzzes of Chris Dutton and John Cass were in the medium handicap fleet, the former was first to the windward mark, but both boats chose to go left up the beat which allowed the rest of the fleet to catch up as they found more wind on the right side. Nonetheless, their aggregate scores were good enough to win the Downs SC trio the team trophy.
Results: Team Prize - Downs SC.
Practise Race 5th Chris Dutton and Claire Hansell (Buzz)
Hoo Freezer 4th Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 15th Chris Dutton and
Claire Hansell (Buzz) 23rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz)
Four Deal boats travelled to Bewl Water near Tunbridge Wells on Sunday for the Bewl Blaster Open Meeting and they did not return empty handed. Steve and Judy Restall won the Asymmetric trophy, Chris Dutton and Claire Hansell took third prize and Richard White and Martyn Styles won the Masters trophy. Unlike last year, the lake was full but with the temperature close to freezing in the morning and little wind the prospect was not inviting for the 30 or so boats waiting to launch. However, by the start of the first race the wind had increased enough to cover the lake with a slight ripple. The Asymmetric boats were set a windward-leeward course with a gate on the upwind leg. Steve Restall and Richard White were quickly away with the home club boats of Alan Page and Dave Griffiths in hot pursuit. The wind dropped towards the end of the race and became very light for the second race. John Cass and Julia Brazil in their Buzz found some breeze on the left side of the course and were first round the windward mark, followed by Dave Griffiths in an RS400 and Chris Dutton and Claire Hansell in a Buzz. However the rest of the fleet caught up on the run and the race was shortened after 2 laps. After a break for lunch there were two more races held back to back, in the last race the wind increased enough for the Buzz crews to trapeze upwind and the sun made a brief appearance.
Results 1st Steve and Judy Restall (RS200, Downs SC) 2nd Alan Page and Ian Sedge (RS200, Bewl Valley SC) 3rd Chris Dutton and Claire Hansell (Buzz, Downs SC) 4th Dave Griffiths and Paul Adams (RS400, Bewl Valley SC)
With sailing at Deal in abeyance until April, attention has turned to inland events with two Downs SC teams travelling to Middlesex to take part in the Bloody Mary Pursuit Race at Queen Mary SC. Almost 200 boats from around the UK competed in the event, with the slowest boats on handicap starting first and then the larger, faster boats starting later and attempting to catch them. The wind, which was light to begin with, continued to drop in strength throughout the race, with the later boats finishing in almost a dead calm. Nonetheless, the Deal boats did well with Chris Catt being the first RS200 to finish in overall 16th place. Steve and Katie Restall in a Buzz were also first in their class, finishing in 43rd place. Next local events on the calendar are the Bewl Blaster in Sussex on the 4th February and the Hoo Freezer on the River Medway on 17th/18th February.