Wineglass Southerns at Fishers Green Sailing Club

Bishop retains the crown

It was a healthy entry for the Wineglass Southern Championship on a threatening but mainly dry autumnal day at Fishers Green S.C. Waltham Abbey, Essex on Sunday 16th October. A mainly westerly breeze that puffed up under the lowering clouds provided the fleet with some great sailing on well set courses. Three races were to be sailed with two counting toward the result.

A well-laid line, just giving the edge to a port tack start, saw two boats take the port end, Alan Bishop and Mike Jackson No. 200 ‘Soave’ and Brian Conroy and Ron Elston 508 ‘Moon Indigo’. Bishop, who had timed his start well, led Conroy over the line who had been just too early at the outer distance mark and had to jibe around to start. Meanwhile, at the starboard end Roger Castle and Dick Reynolds in 421 ‘Rioja’ tacking onto port found a good breeze and led at the windward mark from Bishop and Conroy. Dave and Laura Carter in 507 ‘Vino’ , Ralph Johnson and Beverly Jenkins 469 and Lee and Jon Eynon 501‘Harvest Moon’ were close behind. This group gradually pulled away, splitting the fleet into two. Several positional changes occurred in the leading group, Conroy eventually overhauling Bishop and Castle on the windward leg to finish first with Bishop second and Castle third.

Race two after lunch on a new course again saw Bishop start well with Phillipa Knight and Elaine Hare in 506 ‘Moon River’, Carter, Johnson and Conroy making up the leading group. Again several place changes occurred but it was Bishop’s race with an improving Knight scoring a second place with Carter third.

This then left the contest still open with none of the places settled. The final race saw all boats start on starboard tack and the race proved to be the closest. Conroy led at the windward mark with Bishop, Knight and Castle in pursuit. (It was beginning to sound like a chess game!). Knight suffered a collapsing mainsail and lost ground, but recovered to stay in fourth place, meanwhile Bishop and Castle had closed up on Conroy and on the last windward leg Bishop split tacks with Conroy and found the favourable wind to lead round the mark from Conroy and Castle. The downwind leg saw Bishop fending off Conroy, this allowing Castle to make up ground on them both. At the leeward mark Bishop was just ahead with Conroy alongside as they rounded the mark for the line. Bishop kept Conroy below him who then eased sheets to fall behind Bishop and tack for the line. Meanwhile Castle, taking advantage of the duel ahead of him, had tacked immediately after rounding and went for the finish. Bishop saw the situation and was able to beat Castle to the line, but only just, leaving Conroy third - a thrilling finish to a good meeting.

So, Alan Bishop and Mike Jackson retained the Southern Cup and were awarded the Skipper Bowl for the first Fishers Green Crew and the Designers Plaque for the first Mk I/II.

Overall Results:

1st Alan Bishop and Mike Jackson 200 FGSC
2nd Brian Conroy and Ron Elston 508 FGSC
3rd Roger Castle and Dick Reynolds 501 FGSC
4th Phillipa Knight and Elaine Hare 506 ‘Blue Moon’