Frostbite Series 2025 at Neyland Yacht Club - Day 3

Frostbite Series at Neyland day 3 © Nigel Hutchings

"When the wind is in the east, 'Tis neither good for man nor beast..."

An eager fleet of 19 crews assembled at Neyland YC for the third weekend of the Frostbite Series were greeted by overcast skies, a low temperature and a steady F2-3.

The first race of the day, 4th in the series, started on time at 10:30. The course, with a dog-leg to start, was set to enable a true windward leg to be set each lap; namely - Club Start (W-E), Dropped Buoy Windward (300m to east of Neyland Spit (P)), Club ODM (P), Dropped Buoy Leeward (100m off the starting hut (P)), Dockbank 4 (P), Dropped Buoy Windward (P), TTL.

The combined start for both divisions had the bulk of the fleet grouped towards the pin end on starboard with an ominous drop in pressure soon after the gun. The 29er of Keira E and Simon T had the best start close to the shore on port tack, crossing the fleet with more breeze at a favourable angle as they made progress about the now ebbing tide.

Frostbite Series at Neyland day 3 - photo © Nigel Hutchings

The Dart 18 of Alan G and Dimitri C had found pressure close to the shore and passed the lead 29er halfway up the port biased beat to the first mark, rounding clear ahead and reaching back to the leeward mark with the bulk of the fleet only at the midway point of the first leg.

The lead 29er was just about keeping contact with the Dart on the 2 downwind reaches before beginning the laps true windward leg from Dockbank 4 whilst a substantial proportion of the fleet had yet to round the first mark due to the now extremely patchy breeze, down to zero at points. Keira in the lead 29er was the only boat to cross to the Neyland shore for the beat, pulling out 6 minutes over the Dart who, along with the rest of the fleet headed to the southern side to escape the now strongly flowing tide.

The course was shortened to one lap as large parts of the race track were a near vacuum, proving challenging for the remaining boats to make way against the tide.

Whilst the lead 29er finished clear ahead the Solution of Ross P and ILCA 7 of Jon N had managed to make gains on the beat on the opposite side. On corrected time Ross P (Solution) took the win 1m29s ahead of Jon N (ILCA 7) with Keira E and Simon T (29er) third a further 52s back.

Frostbite Series at Neyland day 3 - photo © Nigel Hutchings

Division 2 had many position changes between the 4 boats, with them all at one point being swept downtide of the gybe mark and having to beat back to it. It was a test of patience and concentration for the slower boats in the lightest spots when the tide was taking them backwards away from the next mark. At the end it was Anwen S ahead of Liam F, in their RS Tera Pro's, followed by Isabelle N in her RS Tera Sport and Dylan W in his ILCA 4.

For the second race of the day the course was adjusted to a windward-leeward sausage along the Neyland shore to allow the whole fleet to make way against the increased outgoing tidal flow.

The chattering of teeth from the young RS Tera sailors, prevalent during the countdown to the race start, stopped as the crews focused on the approaching start and first leg. Anwen S in her RS Tera claimed the pin end on the start signal, in the most breeze but also greatest tide. Those who started close to the shore were well protected from the outgoing tide but had little wind.

Frostbite Series at Neyland day 3 - photo © Nigel Hutchings

The boats in the middle seemed to have the best of both, with Jon N in his ILCA 7 leading and in clear air on the short beat to the first mark set off the marina car park. Ross P (Solution) Eloise C (ILCA 6) and Geoff T (Supernova) rounded the windward mark before an extended lull, sailing to the leeward mark with the tide underneath them, leaving the remainder of the fleet struggling to make it clear around the first mark.

The leading four boats were well ahead of the pack as they reached the windward mark on their second lap, passing two RS Teras who still were yet to make it around for a first time, but one by one became becalmed and taken backwards on the tidal conveyor running from the mark. The fleet re-grouped shoreside of the windward mark, out of the tide, one by one daring to attempt to round the mark but failing as the wind was insufficient wind for them to overcome the full flow of the tide.

As the glassy surface was replaced by ripples from filling wind the Supernova was first to round, touching the mark broadside and having to perform a 360 degrees to exonerate himself. The now bunched up fleet, both divisions, rounded in close formation for all to finish on the second shortened race of the day.

Frostbite Series at Neyland day 3 - photo © Nigel Hutchings

As the fleet returned to shore a steady F3 filled in enticing both catamarans and a Moth to remain afloat to zip around for another 20 minutes until they too beckoned to the call of warm food from the clubhouse.

Club website: neylandyachtclub.co.uk

Division 1 corrected time results for 19th Jan:

1st Ross P (Solution)
2nd Alec D (ILCA 6)
3rd Geoff T (Supernova)

Division 2 corrected time results for 19th Jan:

1st Anwen S (RS Tera Pro)
2nd Dylan W (ILCA 4)
3rd Liam F (RS Tera Pro)

Frostbite Series at Neyland day 3 - photo © Nigel Hutchings

Division 1 Overall Series Results after 19th Jan races:

Division 2 Overall Series Results after 19th Jan races: