Snow Globe 2023 at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham - Races 3 and 4

Charlie Matthews leads Malcolm Hutchings in the first race - second week of the RCYC Snow Globe © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

The Burnham Blaze fleet took two wins on the second day of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club SnowGlobe series, on 18th of November, as Charlie Matthews and Malcolm Hutchings won a race each.

The 11 boats that braved the grim looking forecast, with gusts of 32 kts and heavy rain, were regaled with a perfect day for sailing, with many one to one fights taking place on the water.

The southerly wind and low tide, forced the Race Officer to set up a very unorthodox course, with a westerly start, towards a buoy on the north shore, a short beat to Fairway 9, a reach to a buoy just off the Royal Corinthian pontoon, up to Fairway 7, another reach to a buoy close to middle of the channel and back towards the start line, around a final buoy, just off the Rice and Cole pontoon.

Steve and Alison Hall lead the series overall, at this point - second week of the RCYC Snow Globe - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

First race saw Charlie Matthews and Malcolm Hutchings, on Blazes, lead Steve and Alison Hall's Merlin Rocket to the first mark.

The predominantly reaching course favored the Blazes, Charlie saying: "[the course had] not much opportunity for the Merlin to use its pointing ability or superior speed on a dead run", opinion mirrored by Malcolm.

The eventual winner was Charlie, followed in second place by Malcolm, with the Merlin Rocket being pushed down to 4th by James Hutton-Penman's Laser Radial/ILCA 6 on corrected time.

James Hutton-Penman is second overall currently - second week of the RCYC Snow Globe - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

As Charlie had to retire from the second race, due to family commitments, Malcolm took the lead and despite Steve and Alison's efforts, he kept it all the way to the end.

Jason Phelps, on Blaze, finished on a well deserved 3rd on the line, with enough lead for a 5th on corrected time.

Further down the fleet, James Hutton-Penman was battling guests from Burnham Sailing Club, Jo Tribe and Marcus Collingbourne, on RS200, with James the eventual winner, 4th on the line, 2nd on corrected time.

Keith Gilmore sits in third overall currently - second week of the RCYC Snow Globe - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Keith Gilmore, Laser Radial/ILCA 6, beat Scarlett and Carl Anderson's RS200 for 6th on the line and 3rd on corrected time, pushing the Merlin Rocket on 4th, corrected time.

With the first discard taking effect, Steve and Alison Hall share the top position with James Hutton-Penman, with 6 points each, followed by Keith Gilmore, on 3rd with 11 points and Charlie Matthews on 4th, with 14 points.

The next races will take place on 25th of November, at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. ends.

Scarlett and Carl Anderson rounding a mark - second week of the RCYC Snow Globe - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Overall Series Results so far: (4 races)

Malcolm Hutchings leads the second race - second week of the RCYC Snow Globe - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com