The not so freezing freezer

74 boats took part in a surprisingly warm and sunny Hoo Freezer this year

The 36th Hoo Freezer was held over the weekend 17 - 18 February, the principle sponsors were Pirates Cave and Hoo Marina. The event is hosted by Hoo Ness Yacht Club and organised with assistance from Wilsonian Sailing Club. Other clubs on the Medway, the Scouts, St. John’s Ambulance and the Coast Guard provide safety and medical cover.

For the excellent entry of 74 boats, the usual format was followed, a practice race on the Saturday, the Hoo Freezer on Sunday, a lapping course with results based on average lap times and separate starts for fast, medium and slow handicap boats.
Light airs prevailed over the weekend in contrast to the strong winds of the past six years, a welcomed change for the traditional boats, helping them pick up most of the top prizes.

Plenty of sunshine gave warmth to the proceeding on Saturday and provided the only casualty, treatment for sunstroke, as reported by Richard Cassem the Commodore of Hoo Ness YC at the prize giving. Mark Barnes and Peter Nicolson (B14) led the fast handicap fleet on the first round, were overhauled by three Musto Skiffs on the second with Mick Keats claiming line honours, but relegated to fourth on corrected time. Meanwhile in the medium handicap fleet the neck and neck contest between the Merlin Rockets of Howard Patterson and Sophie Mackley, Rien Zilvoid and Julie Nuttall and Tudor Owen and Hamish Kilburn ended with the former coming from behind to win and lift the Sun Wharf Cup.

Heavy overcast skies and a light shifting northeasterly breeze greeted the contestants on Sunday morning. However, 67 boats got a finish with 47 completing two laps within the 2.30hr time limit. Merlin Rockets were once again in evidence and Chris Lewis and Jane Beaumont, last year’s winner of the practice race and deciding not to defend that title, won the Hoo Freezer Cup with ease. However, Zilvoid and Nuttall challenged them all the way and were leading after the first lap. Lewis and Beaumont eased ahead on the second to win by a two minute margin. Zilvoid and Nuttall picked up the fifth prize and as a consolation the prize for highest placed boat Saturday and Sunday combined, Owen and Kilburn were ninth.

Two Larks were in contention and although Holly Hewat and Alison Dart chased after Simon Cox and Sara Olliff, the later picked up the runners-up prize with Hewat and Dart sixth and the first Youth Sailor prize as well. Neville Herbert and Steve Penfold (Albacore) kept ahead of the leading Lark but relegated to third by just one second on adjusted time. Tony Hunt and Kirsty Hill claimed seventh spot in their V3000, the updated version of the Laser 3000.

Meanwhile, in the fast handicap fleet Richard White and Martin Styles (RS 400) were keeping clear ahead of Tim Ellis and Doug Horner in the other RS 400 for fourth and tenth positions respectively. Tim Fells and Shaun Barber (B14) despite leading the fleet had to settle for eighth, while Kit Stenhouse finishing well ahead of the other ten Musto Skiffs was unfortunate to miss out of the prizes in 11th place.

Results:
Saturday practice race (Sun Wharf Cup)

1-Merlin Rocket - Howard Patterson and Sophie Mackley
2-Merlin Rocket - Rien Zilvoid and Julie Nuttall
3-Merlin Rocket - Tudor Owen and Hamish Kilburn

Hoo Freezer (Hoo Freezer Cup)

1-Merlin Rocket - Chris Lewis and Jane Beaumont
2-Lark - Simon Cox and Sara Olliff
3-Albacore - Neville and Herbert
4-RS 400 - Richard White and Martin Styles
5-Merlin Rocket - Rien Zilvoid and Julie Nuttall
6-Lark - Holly Hewat and Alison Dart
7-V3000 - Tony Hunt and Kirsty Hill
8-B14 - Tim Fells and Shaun Barber
9-Merlin Rocket - Tudor Owen and Hamish Kilburn
10-RS 400 - Tim Ellis and Doug Horner