Ardleigh Frostbite Series
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Are you guys serious?
I’ve just spent the afternoon picking up & packing up the boat to head to Ardleigh tomorrow.Hi Finn.
I reckon you might be better off leaving until the following weekend when hopefully its all back to normal. The forecast is not good for these parts tomorrow. Definitely wouldn’t want to be towing any distance especially if its all for nothing.Having said that this is on the ardleigh website currently…
“Saturday 19th January – Sunday’s racing
Fergus checked the reservoir at lunchtime, and there is no visible ice, although some had been reported around the Draw-off tower earlier in the day. We have therefore decided not to Postpone the race at this stage, but rather to try and get two, fairly short, back to back races in before the forcast snow arrives; though obviously the final decision will be made in the morning.
By way of an inducement, Jonathan has prepared a warming Pepper soup with hot rolls for afterwards, and there will be the normal Bacon rolls to help you get started!”
However I am defo having a weekend off whatever happens.
SiThanks Si.
Looks like quite a bit of Snow forcast for the afternoon so getting back might be interesting.
Given the 2hr drive each way I think I ‘ll leave it for this Weekend and do the Datchet circus. Hopefully it’ll be cold enough that the flying 15’s don’t Show.Finn, you made the right call – a few boats showed up but it was baltic. i spent the afternoon driving round suffolk and essex chasing up bits for my ok and driving was terrible. Max 35 mph on the A12 and less on the back roads. see you up there another week.
5 ok’s today and anything between force 2 to force 6. Tim hurst decided it was too windy and cold and went shopping. The strength would have been manageable but the wind was flicking anywhere it wanted, more than 45 degrees at times. Upwind everyone had a dunk into windward at some point and some fell out I won’t shame the offender!!
Race 1 dan ager was over the line so left it to paul church, lee in a borrowed 1885 and a first Ardleigh outing for Finn in 2072 and paul constable. Lee rounded first then finn, church, constable and ager. 3 gybes later we were all at the bottom mark in a bunch of shoddy mark roundings and ager nipped inside and him and church disappeared off. It finished ager, church, child, finn, constable. Finn and constable had a dunking or two.
At half time Ager and constable went and drank tea so left the other 3 to try not to swim.
Finn rounded the top mark first and then had a swim at the gybe mark and allowed child and church through. At the second attempt child went for a swim and called it a day with a boat full of water. Church kept himself dry and won followed by finn who swam again but stuck out there.
Let’s hope for less shifty weather soon! Welcome Finn, it aint always that bad here!It was nice to finally do some OK Dinghy racing and meet you guys,albeit in some rather testing conditions.
Hopefully I’ll be out there again in the coming weeks.Force 3-4 today from the West. Not exactly an icy blast but quite nippy. Only 5 OKs on the water today – rumour has it that Tim and Lee were carted off shopping. Not good preparation for Thailand or Carnac!
Dan was going great guns in the first race, opening up a big lead from Simon and Paul Church who were having a good scrap, and Andy some way behind. No swims this week apart from Ben Adams who turned turtle putting his rudder on. Things went from bad to worse as the mast came out, which made retrieving the boat tricky without levering off the deck, and the middle tank flooded as there is no front bulkhead.
In race 2 everyone was much closer for the first couple of laps but Simon managed to pull out a reasonable lead on Dan. Just behind Paul Church and Andy were also having a good duel which Paul eventually won. On the last reach Dan managed to get an overlap on Simon, but Simon got the lead back on the beat to the finish line. Ben was DNS as he was still emptying out his boat.
Oh by the way Robert was out in his Finn.
Andy
Another chilly day at Ardleigh saw 5 of the fleet turn up. I don’t think John Ball took his boat much further than the car park. Tim Hurst was seen going through the changing room looking for clothes. Having spent the last 2 weeks shopping with the Mrs you would have thought he would have got the hang of how most people get new clothes. Or perhaps he has had all his money spent.
So, 3 roughty toughty heroes took to the water. Ager and Constable had a close race before he let Ager get away for the win. Simon Cox took the day off from boat building and was very pleased not to capsize. That’s 2 weeks running. The second race finished in the same order.
Warmer weather and more boats for next week please.
5 OKs out this Sunday. Ice all over the reservoir when we arrived but luckily the sun shone and a big enough area of melt water formed for us to race in. In race 1 John Ball took the lead in his Seamark Nunn boat but Dan Ager quickly pulled through to take an unassailable lead. Simon Davies came through for second with Andy Turner third. Tim Hurst has a psychological battle with the light wind but finished 5th.
In the second race John Ball again had the best of the start but Simon Davies took the lead during round 1 with Dan second. A big windshift on lap 2 saw Andy take the lead, but another further round the course saw him hand it back to Simon. At the end Simon was 1st, Andy 2nd, Dan 3rd and John 4th. Tim was DNS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED PERMISSION TO HOLD THE OK WINTER CHAMPS AT ARDLEIGH ON SUNDAY MARCH 17TH. FINE WEATHER ORDERED, FIRST RACE 11AM, ENTRY FEE £10 TO INCLUDE LUNCH, BACON BUTTIES ON ARRIVAL; BEST 2 OF 3 RACES TO COUNT. IF YOUR BOAT IS IN THE CONTAINER TRY TO BORROW ONE AND GET ALONG FOR A GREAT DAY’S SAILING. CAN’T GUARANTEE IT WILL BE LIKE THAILAND BUT SURELY THOSE OF YOU IN THE BRITISH TEAM NEED A BIT OF STARTiNG AND CLOSE RACING PRACTICE.
Andy
4 OK’s braved the shifty gusty fridgid conditions at Ardleigh this Sunday. it was 1-2C but felt much colder however couldnt have been as cold as last week as there was no ice to break up! wind was 6-12 kts from any direction you fancy.
Dan Ager used his one and only “shopping” card for the series, something about a crying baby. Andy T admitted it looked too cold. Simon Cox showed his face to tell us how busy he is working, no time for sailing. Simon Davis doesnt need any excusues he lives miles away. Paul Church?……..Doubt it!
So Paul Constable followed Robert in his finn around the course followed by Lee Child, John Ball and Tim Hurst. Look forward to seeing everyone at the dinghy exhibition on Saturday.
Tim.
TIM i really was at work getting this boat ready for you all to stand around on saturday,see you soon
paulSunday March 3rd. Ice covered reservoir when we arrived but sterling efforts from Steve Ede in a safety boat broke up the ice to allow racing in a force 1 (or less). Tim thought it was like launching into a gin and tonic.
In race 1 Andy, sporting his new P&B sail took off and sailed into the distance to win by a long way. Dan was second round the windward mark but was overtaken by John Ball in his old Seamark Nunn boat to finish second. Tim Hurst finished 4th.
In race 2 we were joined by Paul Constable but Dan sat the race out. Tim started but was DNF. Andy again got into the lead ahead of John Ball and controlled the race from the front. Paul pulled through to take second with John third.
We’re all geared up for the Winter Champs in a fortnight’s time
Andy
Sunday March 10th. Bloody cold on the reservoir today but no ice. Easterly wind force 3-4. Three OKs practising for the Winter Champs next weekend!
In race 1 Andy made the best start and was first round the windward mark. Paul Constable closed up on the subsequent run and reach with Paul Church also in close attendance. Paul Constable had to do a 720 after Andy’s boom hit his boat at the gybe mark. Andy managed to fend off both Pauls and Paul Constable re-took second place at the finish.
In race 2 Paul Constable filled his boat up just prior to the start and Andy filled his up at the first gybe mark which left Paul Church with a big lead. Andy retired to the clubhouse for a hot cup of tea but Paul Constable gradually recovered from his disastrous start but couldn’t quite reel in Paul Church by the finish.
Hope to see you all next Sunday for the Winter Champs. 1st race 11am and two more after lunch. If you boat is in Thailand try to borrow one.
Andy
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