THE first race of the Frostbite dinghy series at Weir Quay Sailing Club was held on Sunday week.
The westerly force 2 to 3 breeze gave two long reaches up and down the river with only a short beat and run at each end.
Twelve boats sailed four laps during the one hour race with Rob Brereton (Wayfarer Popple) taking the fast handicap in 54 minutes, one minute ahead of John Tomlinson (Wayfarer Final Chance).
The slow handicap was won by Ben Houghton (Mirror Pod) who was six minutes ahead of second placed Daniel Newcomb (Mirror Flip Flop), having managed to fly his spinnaker on the downstream reach on every lap.
There was some excitement at the rear of the fleet at the end of the third lap when two Wayfarers and RS400 collided rounding the gybe mark resulting in a protest.
Results — fast handicap; 1 Rob Brereton, Wayfarer Popple; 2, John Tomlinson, Wayfarer Final Chance; 3, Brian Archibald, Wayfarer Knick Knock.
Slow handicap: 1, Ben Houghton, Mirror Pod; 2, Daniel Newcomb, Mirror Flip Flop; 3, Roger Downing, Mirror 59041.