Winter solstice and the throwing in of the towel

Grimly harsh cold with 6 to 8 knots buffing 10 from the north and a lovely white coat of freshly laid snow set the scene as the Essex sailing world threw in the towel.
The winter solstice fell two days later and one has to ask why a sailing club would set a 9:00 start with a 10:40 HW? That in itself would write off half a sailboat fleet on a good day, just add minus 8.0 on the wind chill dial as opposed to shut eye and a cuddly woman and it’s end of series, game over.

IOS S.C. webcam



The day looked beautiful from the inside, the sun came out, the gulls drifted by and we looked at the white shiny snow covering the slipway with not one foot print in it and our thoughts went to the results.

With no elapsed or corrected time available it is anyone’s guess as to how the series was won; whether it was well sorted or really close.



Brightlingsea S.C. webcam

Richard sailing a RS700 is the winner scoring 2,1,2, but sailing of a PY of 875, which removes 1 minute 16 seconds off his elapsed time in every hour. But it is Christmas and we should wish him well.

The Fireballers Mark and Nigel scoring 1,3,DNC were 2nd with Martin and Tony 3,2,5, taking 3rd and it looked like the boat to sail if you wanted a boat race with racing tactics and more place changes than you could wave a stick at.

It is with a sense of embarrassment that I write that Jacko and Simon ‘Merlin’ scoring 10,5,4, robbed Alex ‘Blaze’ scoring 5,4,DNC, of 4th place. Alex having beaten Jacko on the two occasions that they met and it seems most unfair on Alex, but sailing a Blaze of a PY of 1046, and talking to Jacko on the way round the racetrack and holding a straight face, well it is Christmas.

The Chrimbo races start on the 2nd of Jan. at Up River Y.C. at 10:30. This is something to look forward to as I am sure Mr. Little will once more try to fit into his nice, new looking N12 and tack it around Bastard Point without resisting the limerick of Jules Harms about Bells or was it Balls but it always ended late in the day with glassy looking eyes and a slight crushed sobbing sound though a empty beer glass.
The Blackwater Icicle Race hosted this year at Harlow (Blackwater) S.C. takes place on the 9th Jan. 13:30; we pray, but do know that it will not feature Bill’s odd little sound signal. It is a shame that BSC is starts it’s Frostbite series on the same day.

Blackwater S.C. webcam

The questions are will it be nut removable cold, will Brightlingsea Merlin fleet feature up the river, is Maylandsea By really not going to see a Frostbite series, will Batty find a crew, will Ron use his toe straps, will Jacko get back into his wet suit post Chrimbo nosh.
Now read on dot dot dot.
B.S.C. witer results