Bright wintry start to Snowflake
Published 20:02 on 6 Jan 2026
4 January 2026 Chichester Yacht Club
The 2026 Snowflake Series opened in truly wintry style at Chichester Yacht Club, with competitors arriving to a hard frost, ice in the harbour, and an air temperature of 3°C. Despite the chill, the sky was a brilliant midwinter blue, and a low sun cast sharp reflections across the lake. A light but steady 10knot northwesterly allowed Race Officer Bill Grose to set a trapezium course, using the width of the lake to full effect with the committee boat positioned near the marina channel.
To keep the fleet moving — and to minimise time spent waiting in the cold — the club ran a brisk 321 start sequence for both races.
Fast Fleet
Race 1 saw a clean start across the fleet. The RS400s were quick to stretch their legs, one taking an early lead and opting for a wide gybe down the run under asymmetric spinnaker. The Merlins and Hadrons chose a more direct downwind line, but once handicaps were applied it was the RS200s that shone.
- 1st: Tom Alheid (RS200)
- 2nd: Ben & Keira McGraine (RS200)
- 3rd: Jack Holden (RS400)
In Race 2, Jack Holdens RS400 converted early pace into a correctedtime win, keeping Ben & Keira McGraine in second place. George Yeoman & Mark Oakley brought their Merlin home in third after a consistent performance.
Medium Fleet
In Race 1, Mark Riddingtons Aero led from the gun and held the fleet at bay around the course. However, he couldnt quite stretch far enough to stay ahead on corrected time, with Alex Butlers Solo taking the win. Behind them, Iain & Sarah Yardley (2000) sailed a tidy race to finish ahead of Thomas Knight in his ILCA 4.
Race 2 delivered one of the closest contests of the day, with two 2000s locked in battle. Adrian & Roz Snell managed to overhaul Iain & Sarah Yardley at the windward mark and held their advantage to the finish to secure the win.
The Snowflake Series continues on 18 January, and competitors are encouraged to register online via the CYC website.
