Dell Quay Sailing Club

With an hour to the start it looked as though races nine and ten in Dell Quay SC's Frostbite Series might turn into David and Goliath match racing between two of the keenest competitors, Toby Hamer (Topper) and Finn sailor Edward Thorburn. However more competitors appeared in time to broaden the competition despite a forecast of strong winds and heavy rain which reduced the potential turnout considerably. The weather proved kinder than predicted, with a brisk breeze allowing good racing and the gusts causing only a few capsizes.

Hamer, a visitor from Langstone SC, who has been sailing throughout the series, made a good start in the first race and was well up with faster rivals throughout the two laps. First home was series leader Thorburn, also a visitor, from Newhaven and Seaford SC, although a doubt over which mark to head for cost him valuable time. Behind him came the day's third visitor, Nick Jones from Chichester YC, but both lost out on handicap, moving back to third and fourth places respectively as third finisher Bill Dawber (Solo) won the race by just nine seconds from Hamer on corrected time.

Hamer again started well in the day's second race, but this time Thorburn made no unnecessary diversions. Bob Marshall and Mike Savage (RS400) headed him for part of the time, until a capsize put them behind, and Thorburn finished far enough ahead to win on handicap by a margin of 30 seconds. Again Dawber and Hamer, in second and third positions this time, were separated by the narrowest of margins, just eight seconds on corrected time.

Dawber's results took him past Thorburn to lead the series overall and he will be hard to beat if his good form continues in the final two races. But Thorburn is still challenging hard and could win, while Malcolm Buchanan (Solo), who wasn't sailing this time, and Hamer, who are lying third and fourth, could swap places. So all hinges on the last two races on January 30th.

Photos by Liz Sagues