COMPETITION was close in the second race of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's Frostbite Series, with leaderboard places in two classes decided by just a few seconds.

The forecast strong winds did not materialise as the committee boat set up station off Netley. Making the most of the 8- to 15-knot south-westerly, two round courses were set, giving competitors a good morning's racing, for most boats over two hours on the water.

Three keen competitors usually out on the race track headed the race management team with CRO Jan Cox, normally one of the club's Cowes Week line officers, assisted by Flag Officers Roger Townsend and Peter Bateson. So there was certainly no chance of getting away with barging at the line too close to the launch; hence three penalties were handed out straight away.

In Class 1, bowsprit designs predominated, including an enthusiastic group of six J-boats. Mike Henning's Mumm 36 Alice took line honours but slipped to second on corrected time when Ed Holton's J110 Shades of Blue found the all important 25 seconds. Stuart Danby was third in the non-bowsprit Dehler 33 Respect. This was an improvement on his sixth place last time, but then most of his crew were stranded in a blizzard on a French motorway when they should have been sailing!

Competition was equally close in Class 2 where the first three boats finished within 53 seconds. Bernie Fyans' Mustang Erik the Red led from Richard Walker's Micro 18 Gem Urchin with Race 1 winner Tony Hanfrey third. The Multihulls enjoyed a reaching course won by Simon Forbes' Dragonfly 800 Scooby III.

The Frostbite Series continues on Sunday February 2nd. All boats race under RSYC Handicaps, available by completing a simple self-measurement form.