Sunburn in the Frostbite Series?

The dinghy park was full of sailors last Sunday to enjoy the Indian summer weather which was as good as any during the real summer period.

This was of course for the first races of the questionably named 'Frostbite Series' - the British weather maintaining its total unpredictability!

A dozen boats came to the start and race officer Paul Johnson assisted by Huw in patrol, set a traditional Monkstone, Pendine, Harbour course for the first race in a light southerly force 2, but racing was slow due to decreasing wind.

All 12 boats finished with Chris Bannister blazing a trail ahead of the rest to achieve a good win in his suitably named Blaze, with Mark and Debbie Tissiman (Fireball) second and Paul Griffiths (Solo) third.

Paul then reverted to his previously created Monkstone, Amroth, Pendine, Harbour figure of eight course for the second intended race - what he was on in the starter's box to enter this virtual reality world we have not discovered!

However, the race was shortened due to lack of wind (or perhaps before the fleet tied itself up in knots!).

The Fireball crossed the new line at the Pendine mark with the Blaze not far behind in distance, but clearly unlikely to reach the line within the hour!

So the race was abandoned with the Tissimans taking the win and the rest of the fleet getting a DNF (did not finsh).

Regardless of the slow going, everyone agreed that it was a great day to be on the water and catch the last of the weather.

Next Frostbite

The next racing is not until Sunday, October 16, with a 9 am start.

Late Season

Series

A total of 21 competitors took part in the late season series with nine out of eleven races sailed.

A full dozen different classes were entered showing the diversity of our club and it was particularly gratifying to note the considerable number of new sailors (young and less young) who participated.

Overall, Ben Dancer (Laser) showed a very clean pair of heels (or should it be 'a clean transom') achieving six wins and two seconds to win the series, with Paul Griffiths (Solo) gaining one win, four seconds and a third to take second place. Chris Bannister (Blase) was only a single point behind in third place, with Ben Hinksman (Topper) gaining a very creditable fourth. Peter Bower (Phantom) made fifth and was always near the front of the fleet when he raced. Steve Hinksman (RS Vision), James (Topper) and Paul Johnson and Alan Lambert (Taser) tied in sixth place. These results will be computed with the Early and Mid-Season results to determine the full season's results which will be reported at the Laying Up Supper on Saturday, November 26, when all the prizes will be awarded.

Darts

Tenby church clock was striking 11 pm last Friday night which in all other ways appeared a normal late summery evening, but a unique phenomenon had just occurred in the rugby club! The SSC darts team notched up their first ever win, having taken the match against Tenby Rugby Club six games to five. Is this the start of a new level of darting or will the elusive 'doubles' continue to be our bête noir? Who knows, but we were over the moon having gained our first success!

Sea Fever turns Marie Celeste

The 'buttie boys' were out again in Sea Fever last Thursday enjoying the super weather. That is until they got towards Monkstone Point when a sea fog totally enveloped them and they crept very gingerly along the coast in very poor visibility indeed. As they were nearing Tenby (according to their calculations) they came across a buoy and wisely opted to lay up until conditions cleared. Some four hours later, they were able to make way again and continue with a more pleasant cruise before returning to harbour. It was a salutary reminder that fog is probably the worst of all hazards for coastal sailors. We have no record of how many butties were consumed on this occasion but it is rumoured that bacon prices in Saundersfoot rose the following day!

CYRCS

The last CYRCS meeting of the season - postponed from September 17 - is still intended to be run on Saturday, October 15, with the first race at 10.55 am.

Thank You Celebrations

There will be an open evening with food to celebrate a successful season for club members on Saturday, October 15. Full details next week.

Nautical Nip

There was a young sailor from Crewe

Who knew not his tack from his clew

Despite all the training

His wind sense was failing

And sadly his boat never flew

Skipper's Mate