Icicle Series 2025 at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Exactly 100 boats took part in Bough Beech Sailing Club's Icicle Series throughout January and February. 73 were in the Conventional fleet and 27 in the Asymmetric fleet. Courses for the Conventionals were varied but the Asymmetrics always had a windward-leeward.

This year was one of extremes, as everyone across the country experienced. There were a few very breezy days which kept the safety boats rather busy! We also had some very light wind races and some were not sailable at all.

Icicle Series at Bough Beech - photo © James Maynard

The format of two races on each day meant that if there are races to 'catch up', a third race was run on any subsequent Sunday. Overall, only 2 races out of a possible 16 were not sailed, which was more than could have been hoped for at the beginning.

The racing in the Conventional fleet was tight right up until the last day of very tricky sailing. Strong gusts and unpredictable directions made for an interesting last day where all was to play for.

Icicle Series at Bough Beech - photo © James Maynard

However, the victorious sailor was Bough Beech's own Elliot Marks (ILCA 7), very closely followed by John Clementson with various crews (Wayfarer) from Chipstead SC. Third place was given to Rob Gorrod (ILCA 7) and fourth to Guy Marks and Sam Boniface (Wayfarer). Despite his best efforts on the last day, securing two bullets and a second, George Smith (RS 600) ended up fifth. The sailors in third, fourth and fifth are all from Bough Beech.

There were less than 9 points between the prize winners.

Daniel Hebditch and Seb Robb during the Icicle Series at Bough Beech - photo © James Maynard

In the Asymmetrics, the winner was clear from fairly early on - congratulations to Paul Cullen and Verity Hopkins (2000) from Bough Beech for securing bullets in every race they sailed. Their discards were used to sail in an RS200 which also resulted in a 10th place in the same fleet!

However, there was some closer racing further down the fleet and plenty of sailors vying for the other prize-winning positions. Podium positions were decided on the final day and were mostly determined by whether you could keep the mast pointing upwards for the final three races.

Icicle Series at Bough Beech - photo © James Maynard

Well done to Mike Warwicker and Kate Fitzsimmons (RS 200) from Bough Beech for a fantastic series - a well deserved second place. Mike Green (RS100), also a Bough Beech sailor for the winter, was consistently placed third and fourth throughout the series and managed to secure third place in the end. He was closely followed by Andrew Barnett, mostly with Miranda Cook (RS 200) from Island Barn SC.

There was a slight change to the fifth-place winners, following a correction to the results. Well done to Jonny Moss and Rich Sheridan (RS400) - also from Bough Beech - for securing fifth.

Paul Cullen, winner of the Asymmetric fleet (crew Verity Hopkins not present) - Icicle Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Asymmetric Results:

Elliot Marks, winner of the Conventional fleet - Icicle Series at Bough Beech - photo © Sarah Seddon

Conventional Results: