New Quay Yacht Club

Frostbite 2008

Frostbite 2008 - Final Report

Frostbite 1,2

The Frostbite Dinghy Sailing Series for 2008 at New Quay began on Sunday 6 January in near perfect conditions, slight sea, light wind and even some sunshine, remarkable for the time of year. Eleven dinghies raced, four single handers , six 2 man dinghies and a very fast catamaran. This was a very gentle introduction to the winter series with no capsizes.

Results: Race 1: 1 Crawford McLeary, Laser; 2 Ben Davies, Laser; 3 Liz Howell & Frazer McMillan, F18. Race 2: 1 Crawford McLeary, Laser; 2 Ben Davies, Laser; 3 Davies Morgan, Laser.

Frostbite 3, 4

Eight intrepid crews in 3 Lasers, 3 Laser 2000, 1 F8 Cat, and 1 Pico, took to sea on 20 January to race in the second Frostbite Racing event at New Quay on Sunday. They were not deterred by the gusty South West wind blowing at 20 knots and gusting at quite a bit more or by the rain. The first race was challenging with one or two capsizes but all boats crossing the finish however during the second race the wind increased and many crews retired .

Results for Race 3 in the series: 1 Ben Davies, Laser; 2 Liz Howell & Fraser McMillan, F 18 Tiger; 3 Crawford McLeary, Laser. Race 4: 1 Ben Davies, Laser; 2 Andy Howes & Nigel Howes, Laser 2000; 3 Liz Howell & Fraser McMillan, F 18 Tiger.

Frostbite 5,6

The strength of the southerly wind and a forecast of the wind to increase resulted in the decision not to race. Event 3 of the Frostbite dinghy series on Sunday morning 3 February.

Frostbite 7,8

After being blown out a fortnight ago it looked as if there would not be enough wind to even start racing on Sunday 17 February but the lightest of breezes set the 18 boats off on the first race. The challenge was to get in the breeze and stay with it requiring intense concentration. All the dinghies completed the first race. The breeze died completely in the second race with only half the fleet reaching the finish. Although not exciting sailing there was a certain amount of sheer pleasure drifting in the warm sunshine on a calm sea in February.

Results: Race 7: 1 Crawford McLeary, Laser; 2 Ben Davies, Laser; 3 Liz Howell & Fraser McMillan, F18 Tiger. Race 8 : Joint 1 Ben Davies Laser & Crawford McLeary, Laser; 3 Fergus Whiteside & Kate Ingham, Laser 2.

Frostbite 9,10

Six boats competed in the 2 races held in a fresh easterly breeze with the 3 Laser 2000 enjoying close competition, all 3 deciding to reef sails . Ben’s closest competiton was the F 18 Catamaran as Crawford took over as Race Officer in the absence of the usual team. Race results: Race 9: 1 Ben Davies, Laser; 2 Pete Jones & Fraser McMillan, F18 Tiger; 3 Steve Wood & Sheila Morgan, Laser 2000. Race 10: 1 Ben Davies, Laser; 2 Pete Jones & Fraser McMillan, F18 Tiger; 3 Steve Wood & Sheila Morgan, Laser 2000.

Final Frostbite Races

The northerly wind blowing at 3-4 knots creating a large swell was challenging for the 8 competitors in this the last event of the series. It was also a challenge for the race committee being tossed about for over 2 hours in a moored boat on the start line. Results Race 11: 1 Crawford McLeary, Laser; 2 Pete Jones & Fraser McMillan, F 18 Tiger; 3 Stuart Gill & Ed Williams, 420. Race 12: 1 Crawford McLeary, Laser; 2 David Morgan, Laser; 3 Pete Jones & Fraser McMillan, F 18 tiger.

After lunch in the Crows Nest the prizes were presented by Commodore Rosemary Brangwin. The Frostbite Series Cup was retained by Crawford McLeary, Laser; 2 Ben Davies, Laser; 3 Steve Wood & Sheila Morgan, Laser 2000; 4 Pete Masters & Jennifer Davies, Laser 2000. Fraser McMillan received the Crew Award and Ed Williams the Junior Award.

The 2008 series was very successful with 10 out of 12 races being sailed. The numbers taking part increase each year, in 2008, 30 sailors and 21 boats. The event could not be sustained at this level without the co-operation of CBWS – the loan of their RIB – thanks to Ceri Knapgate and Steve Wood. Essential too were the many volunteers organised by Crawford – on safety boats: Stuart, Pauli, Kevin, James ( Tresaith Mariners) and Mike, Kester (NQYC); committee boat: Ed, Kathy, Janice; in the Crows Nest, Liz dealt with the entries and heated up the soup made by Sheila and Jennifer.

Frostbite 2007 - Final Report

The final races in the New Quay Frostbite 2007 Series were held on Sunday 25 March (see photos of this year's event) with 10 dinghies competing and all trying to improve their position in the series. The wind and sea conditions were very favourable – light NE wind and a slight sea giving good sailing for all and no rescue work for the safety boats ‘Viking’ and ‘August Fox’ The first five boats in races 11 & 12 were Lasers with Ben Davies recording 2 more wins, Crawford McLeary 2 seconds and Ben Jones 2 thirds.

With the races completed and the boats packed away crews returned as usual to the Crows Nest for post race soup and on this occasion, the prizegiving. The prizes were presented by the Commodore of New Quay Yacht Club, Colin Davies. The Frostbite Series Trophy was won by Crawford Mcleary, Laser; 2 Gemma Burchell & Stuart Gill , 420; 3 Peter Masters & Nigel Howes, Laser 2000.The Youth Frostbite Trophy was won by Thomas Phillips.

With 23 different boats in the competition, this was the most successful sailing series to be held in New Quay for many years. Its success was due in no small measure to the contribution of Tresaith Mariners – Stuart Forsythe & Paul Austin crewing ‘August Fox’. Cardigan Bay Water Sports ensured the safety cover was adequate with the use of their RIB. NQYC’s ‘Viking’ was used for the first time in the winter series in the capable hands of Mike Masters and Steve Wood. The hours tossed in the committee boat were stoically endured by Jennifer Davies, Ed Wilson and Janice Tongue while the Crows Nest crew of Sheila Morgan, Liz Masters and Kathy Hayes worked on the après race soup. All were invited to a ‘Racing forum’ - rules and tactics session presented by Crawford who also did the race briefings.

Of the competing sailors Richard Steenburg deserves a mention for his tenacity in sailing a NQYC Pico into fourth place overall in his first competitive event. Gemma Burchell at the helm of her 420, last year’s Tipsy Sailor ( for multiple capsizes!) this year sailed into second place overall . Ben Davies won 7 races, failed to win the series as he sailed 2 different boats ending 5th place in Laser and 9th in Dart 18. The 2 RS boats that made brief appearances , RS800, Liz Howell & Frazer Mcmillan and Ceri Knapgate RS200 were spectacular for their speed and the manner of their wipeouts! (final results).

Reports from the 2007 Frostbite Series

The inaugeral event in the Frostbite racing series took place on the Sunday 14 January, a bright and sunny day. The first race was won by Crawford McCleary and in the second race Thomas Philips took the honours.

The breezy conditions tested all the sailors competing in the second of the Frostbite Dinghy Racing Series at New Quay on Sunday 28 January.

Thirteen boats entered, several tested the conditions and decided not to race in the Force 3-4 south westerly wind with moderately large waves. The gusts and wind shifts proved too challenging for many and after capsizes and gear failure only 4 boats completed the first race, the two crewed boats, Laser 2000 and 420 revelling in the conditions. As wind increased during the next race all racing was abandoned.

After the snow and strong winds it looked as though racing on Sunday 11 February would not go ahead but the day dawned calm and later became sunny and proved to be an excellent sailing day for Races 5 and 6. Ten dinghies lined up for the start but the hottest competition was between the growing fleet of Lasers with Ben Davies winning both races beating previous winner Crawford McLeary into second place.

Races 7 & 8 in were sailed on Sunday 25 February with 10 boats competing. They set sail in a moderate south westerly breeze which steadily increased to 15 knots, stronger in the gusts with the challenging wind shifts that the S W wind brings to New Quay Bay. There were thrills and spills with fast exciting reaches, tricky gybes and many capsizes and retirements but the stalwarts competed the 2 races. Results: 1 Crawford McLeary, Laser Radial; 2 Ben Davies, Laser; 3 Gemma Burchell & Matthew Webster, 420; 4 Richard Steenburg, Pico. Race 8: 1 Ben Davies, Laser; 2 Gemma Burchell & Matthew Webster, 420; 3 Crawford McLeary, Laser Radial; 4 Richard Steenburg, Pico.

The forecast of very strong winds threatened cancellation of Event 5 in New Quay’s Frostbite sailing but the actual wind conditions on Sunday morning were much quieter than forecast so the event was held.

The racing began in a fresh westerly breeze with some strong gusts and every boat in the race capsizing at one time or another including the strongest sailor on the day, Ben Davies in his Dart 18 catamaran who scored two wins.

The new team in ‘Delilah’ Laser 2000, Nigel and Andy Howes achieved two second placings and the regular 420 sailors, Gemma Burchell and Stuart Gill came in third in race nine with Richard Steenburg, pico, hanging on to 4th place. Both the 420 and the Pico retired from race 10 as the wind increased.

The crews on ‘Viking’ and ‘August Fox’, the two safety boats, were kept well occupied; the photographer on ‘Viking’ recorded the exciting thrills and spills.

If you would like to compete in this years Frostbite then please read the racing rules and fill in an entry form.

2007 Frostbite poster
Frostbite Rules
Entry Form

This years events will take place on the following dates:

Sunday Jan 14
Sunday Jan 28
Sunday Feb 11
Sunday Feb 25
Sunday March 11
Sunday March 25

Frostbite Series 2006 reviewed

The very successful winter series of dinghy racing ended on Sunday 9 April with the final event and prize giving.

The series consisted of 6 events, held fortnightly from late January; races were held on 4 of the dates and on 2 occasions the conditions were too rough for racing . On Sunday 12 March racing was cancelled due to S gale which blew right through the Crows Nest. so the event – ‘Risk Assessment & Social’ - was held in Bodwina (Crawford’s house) by a cosy fireside! In all 6 races were sailed. The length of race varied according to conditions – cold and wind strength . There were 19 entries for the series ranging from Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 2000, Laser 2. Wayfarer, Topper, Pico ,420 to RS200 from NQYC, Aberystwyth Sailing Club, Tresaith Mariners SC, Teifi Boat Club, Aber Uni Sailing Club and Cardigan Bay WS.

The races were run using the ‘average lap’ format which proved to be very successful allowing all the boats, fast and slow to sail for a similar time.

The outright series winner was Ben Davies, Laser, NQYC ( also this year’s commodore of Tresaith Mariners) who won 5 out of the 6 races. In second place, in hot pursuit was Crawford Mcleary, Laser, NQYC and in a well earned 3 rd place was Thomas Phillips, NQYC in his first season in Laser Radial having moved up from Topper. In 4 th place was Gemma Burchell and crew Stuart , 420, from Aberystwyth SC who sailed very well in a lively boat in challenging conditions.

Trophies: Frostbite Cup – Ben Davies; Junior Cup – Thomas Phillips.

Awards: ‘Consolation’ – Crawford Mcleary; Tipsy Sailor – Gemma Burchell; Rites of Passage – Ben Jones; Most Improved – Heather Summers.

The organisation was joint between NQYC & CBWS using Club premises and CBWS boats, RIB for safety & Janneau for committee thanks to Steve Wood, Principal & Ceri Knapgate, chief instructor CBWS. Race Officer Jennifer Davies was ably assisted by Kathy Hayes ( who was also official photographer) and Steve Wood. The briefing and calculation of results were in the hands of Crawford McLeary, admin. by Sheila Morgan and the lunchtime soups created by Sheila and Jennifer ( 12 different varieties for the series). The super – efficient Safety Boat crew were Stuart Forsythe and Paul Austin, borrowed from Tresaith Mariners.