Illusion Spring Plate at Bembridge Sailing Club

Bruce Huber during Race 1 of the Illusion Spring Plate at Bembridge © Mike Samuelson

A close final race in the Illusion Spring Plate at Bembridge © Mike Samuelson

Some excellent conditions for this year's Illusion Spring Plate at Bembridge over the weekend. Saturday saw bright sunshine with the forecast suggesting the wind increasing as the day wore on, however in fact it peaked at around 24 knots during the second race and then decreased to provide almost perfect conditions for the third race. Although overcast on Sunday, the SW'erly breeze was slightly less and therefore more manageable for the non-experts.

Twelve boats started the first race on Saturday however Guy Mattinson in his newly acquired ex-West Kirby Illusion took on too much water on the first beat to continue. Bruce Huber was first round the windward mark closely pursued by Mark Downer and Rupert Holmes. Despite their best efforts neither were able overtake and had to be content with second & third places with Raymond Simonds in fourth. With the wind initially around 15 knots, it was another excellent start for the second race. Bruce & Mark were neck & neck for the first round, however Mark managed to get ahead on the second round. Although well up in the chasing group, it was clear that James Meaning was finding the breezy conditions quite difficult so after a port & starboard incident he decided to retire. Just behind as Mark as they negotiated the final leeward gate, Bruce then took a penalty and with Rupert Holmes & Raymond Simonds close on his heels he had to make do with a fourth place. Lower down in the fleet it was good to see the two senior helms of the Illusion fleet, Philip Bown & Robin Ebsworth, finishing within inches of each other. With the breeze dropping to a much more pleasant level for the third and final race of the day, it was quite a surprise that both Bruce & Mark were OCS so were well down in the fleet for the first round. At the front meanwhile, James Meaning & Raymond Simonds were having an excellent tussle with Raymond coming out best during the second round. In the third and final round, Bruce made up a lot of ground and almost crossed the line in second, however James just held him off.

On Sunday, fourteen boats took to the water. Although the breeze was gusting 20 knots at the start, it settled down to a more manageable 15 knots as the race progressed. While most decided to keep to the left of the course, a few went right and benefited from the freer air. There was not much to separate the top four or five and places changed on most legs. In the end James Meaning crossed the line after three rounds just ahead of Mark Downer, Raymond Simonds & Bruce Huber. The second race of the day started in about 11 knots of wind with Xander Shaw OCS and having to return. It was great to see Steve Warren-Smith just ahead after the first round and although he was subsequently overtaken by Raymond Simonds during the second round, he did well to hold off strong challenges from Bruce Huber, James Meaning, Rupert Holmes & Mark Downer. In the final race of the day, the breeze increased to about 17 knots at the start and Rolly Wilson was OCS. All the usual front runners were evident as they completed the first couple of rounds. Going into the final round Mark Downer managed to just get ahead of Bruce Huber and took first place with Raymond Simonds, Andrew Blundell and Steve Warren-Smith very close behind.

This meant that after discarding his fourth place in the first race on Saturday, Raymond Simonds won the Spring Plate with 11 points; Mark Downer took second with 12 points and Bruce Huber was third with 13 points.

(l-r) Mark Downer (2nd), Raymond Simonds (1st) & Bruce Huber (3rd) in the Illusion Spring Plate at Bembridge - photo © Mike Samuelson

The next Regatta at Bembridge is the 2014 - 2015 Illusion National Championships on Saturday & Sunday 21st - 22nd March.

Overall Results:

Start of Race 1 Saturday

Start of Race 2 on Saturday

Start of Race 3 on Saturday