Bough Beech SC Open Icicle Series - Overall
by Nick Marden 2 Mar 2022 09:52 GMT
27 February 2022
2022 Bough Beech SC Icicle Series © Martyn Smith
Over 40 boats enjoyed a balmy finale to Bough Beech SC's Icicle series on 27 February. The Force 2 South easterly was a welcome change after a gale had blown off racing the previous Sunday, and 30 knot gusts had tested competitors on consecutive race days before that.
George Smith (RS600) got well clear to win the penultimate race of the conventional series before retiring in the final race when it was clear it would be a discarded result. Joe Warwicker and Hugo Valentine (420) followed George home in the first race and went on to win the second. Local sailor Sergio Messina (Laser) put in an excellent performance to take 3rd place in the first race and Michael Clark (Laser) followed a 4th place in this race with a 2nd in the final race. The Finn of Richard Sharp, always in contention, was 3rd overall in the final race.
George Smith's result was enough to win him the Conventional series. The Warwicker/Valentine 420 from Shoreham had missed too many races and were obliged to count a 5th place which consigned them to 2nd overall. John Clementson and Mel Titmus (Chipstead) had sailed their Wayfarer with superb consistency throughout the series and came home 3rd. 4th was the equally consistent Snipe of Peter Wolstenholm and Lloyd Roberts, and 5th was Richard Sharp's Finn, both Bough Beech boats.
In the Asymmetric Fleet, a re-examination of results is to be done but it looks as though the day belonged to Mike Green and Lynn Ratcliffe (RS400) with two podium finishes, with series leaders Elliott Marks and Sarah Seddon (2000), Tim Humphries and Paula Bayntun (RS200), Mick and Sarah Whitmore (RS400), and Luke Broughton and Nicki Kane (2000) all with podium finishes in one of the races.
The overall result of the Asymmetric Series is not in doubt, however. Elliott Marks and Sarah Seddon from the home club came out fairly comfortable winners, with Mike Green and Lynn Ratcliffe (Eastbourne Sovereign/Pevensey Bay) in 2nd. 3rd place, to be verified, is between Luke Broughton and Nicki Kane (Itchenor) and Mike Warwicker and Kate Fitzsimmons (RS200, Bough Beech).
It was disappointing that six of the planned eighteen races were lost to unsailable conditions. The race committee felt unable to add missed races on the designated catch-up days because of extreme conditions. In recognition of this, Rear Commodore Richard Hudson announced at the prize-giving that this years' visitors would have a discount on their entry fee if they came back in 2023. But despite this the series was a success with almost 90 boats having taken part at some stage. It was great to see some familiar faces among our large contingent of visitors as well as a number of new crews.
Overall Results: