41st Hoo Freezer - Saturday & Sunday 10th & 11th March 2012

Roy Winnett's Report of the Race

Temperatures in the high teens with plenty of sunshine were the unlikely conditions for the 41st Hoo Freezer, held over the weekend 10th & 11th March. Regrettably the forecast of light winds kept entries down to just 52 boats. The event is hosted by Hoo Ness YC and organised with assistance from Wilsonian SC.

Hoo Marina were the main sponsors with generous contributions from MDL, Gillingham Marina, Pirates Cave and Sheppard Neame. Other sailing clubs, the Scouts and Coast Guard provided safety cover. The customary format was followed; practice race on Saturday and the Hoo Freezer on Sunday, with two starts, fast handicap PY less than 1000 and medium handicap PY 1001 – 1160.

With a pleasant 2 – 3 westerly, for the practice race, a course was set to make full use of the river over top of the tide to give a variety of leeward, windward and reaching legs. The medium fleet were first away and Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Merlin Rocket) gradually eased ahead, kept the lead to the line, finished well ahead of the of the fleet to win on corrected time and lift the Gun Wharf Cup. Peter Gray/Rick Peperdine won the Scorpion contest for runner-up spot while John Clementson/Melanie Titmus had to settle for third. The conditions did not favour the fast fleet and although Richard Smith (Musto Skiff) led the fleet home was relegated to 8th on handicap while Mike Pickering/Mike Priddle (Osprey) were outside the prizes in fourth by just 3-seconds on corrected time.

Sunday dawned with very light airs of a variable direction but a westerly finally settled. To enable shortening, a lapping course was set including a triangle and sausage. Nine competitors decided to remain ashore but there were 43 boats on the start line. Rein Zivold/Julie Nuttal (Merlin Rocket) led the medium fleet and kept clear of the congestion at the windward mark. Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Merlin Rocket) followed by John Clementson/Melanie Titmus (Scorpion) and Graham Callum/Zoe Balantyne (National12), broke clear of the pack into clear air, while the rest struggled against the flood tide. The B14’s of Tim Harrison/Jonathan Ratcliffe and Mark Barnes/Dan Hare starting 10 minutes later overhauled them and chased after the leaders. As the fickle wind tended to fade and the spring tide turned the course was shortened to just one lap and a triangle. Zivold/Nuttall maintained a commanding lead for line honours and a well deserved victory on adjusted time. Emery/Lowes had closed up on the leaders to pick up third prize, while Harrison/Ratcliffe finished ahead of Barnes/ Hare for second and fifth respectively. Clementson/Titmus led the Scorpions home for fourth prize and Club Team Prize for Chipstead SC with Simon Gillow/Fiona Brett 12th and Janet/Alan Richie 13th. The Hornets persevered with Barsley-Dale/Russell swopping places with Strangler/John Shelton on the final leg, Cooke/McHardy finished just behind for 6th, 8th and 9th places respectively and the Class Team Prize. Callum/Balantyne also persevered to claim seventh place and Brian Lamb/Sam Pygall (Wayfarer) caught up with the leaders in the last lap for tenth overall. Eleven competitors gave up the struggle and retired while eleven failed to finish within the time limit.

The Race Officers prize was awarded to Mike Pickering and Mike Priddle (Osprey) who reside in Truro and Sutton Coalfield but meet up for open meetings.

Medway Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ray Maisey with help from Peter Gaskin the Commodore of Hoo Ness Yacht Club, presented the prizes.

Overall Results/Prizes
Hoo Freezer

1st Merlin Rocket 3692 Rien Zilvold/Julie Nuttall (Whitstable YC)
2nd B14 758 Tim Harrison/Jonathan Ratcliffe (HPYC)
3rd Merlin Rocket 3700 Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Whitstable YC)
4th Scorpion 2010 John Clementson/Melanie Titmus (Chipstead SC)
5th B14 788 Mark Barnes/Dan Hare (Whitstable YC)
6th Hornet 2176 Toby Barsley-Dale/Gareth Russell (Paxton Lakes SC)
7th National 12 3530 Graham Callum/Zoe Balantyne (Burghfield SC)
8th Hornet 2132 Strangler/John Shelton (Rutland SC)
9th Hornet 2080 Stephen Cooke/Alastair McHardy (Stone SC)
10th Wayfarer 10614 (Wilsonian SC)

Practice race

1st Merlin Rocket 3700 Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Whitstable YC)
2nd Scorpion 2013 Peter Gray/Rick Peperdine (SHSC)
3rd Scorpion 2010 John Clementson/Melanie Titmus (Chipstead SC)

Hoo Freezer Cup
Rien Zilvold/Julie Nuttall (Whitstable YC)

Gun Wharf Cup
Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Whitstable YC)

Highest Placed Class Team
Hornets: Toby Barsley-Dale/Gareth Russell (Paxton Lakes SC) Strangler/John Shelton (Rutland SC) and Stephen Cooke/Alastair McHardy (Stone SC) Chris Swinchatt/Nicky Marsh (Chipstead SC)

Highest Placed Club Team
Chipstead: Janet/Alan Richie (Scorpion), John Clementson/Melanie Titmus (Scorpion), and Simon Gillow/Fiona Brett (Scorpion)

Highest placed on aggregate
Phil Emery/Will Lowes (Whitstable YC)

Race Officer’s Prize
Mike Pickering and Mike Priddle (Osprey)

More pictures from the Freezer

Date Published 29th Mar 2012