Illusion Woodford Long Distance Race at Bembridge Sailing Club
by Mike Samuelson 28 Apr 2015 18:33 BST
25-26 April 2015
Bembridge Illusions Woodford Long Distance Race © Mike Samuelson
Normal racing for a few Illusions last Saturday afternoon and then the last race of the winter Illusion season (the Woodford Long Distance race) on Sunday afternoon which was much enjoyed by the five competitors.
On Saturday, the SW F4 breeze provided some good racing. However, the first race soon became a reaching exercise due to a 45 degree wind-shift, despite the windward mark being re-laid after the first beat, so it was halted after two rounds. The wind behaved better for races 2 and 3 which were close affairs. Race 3 was again only two rounds, as it was by now nearly 5.00 p.m. Mark Downer carried the day with two wins, with Bruce Huber taking the other win.
On Sunday, with slack tides offshore and the NE breeze mainly steady and never shifting more than five degrees, Race Officers Tom Scott & Chris Andreae were able to set an excellent beat to Britten in the medium swell which, near the harbour, was just within a tolerable limit for an Illusion.
After a delayed start as there was insufficient water under the crane for the five Illusionists to launch until about 16:00, Bill Daniels went for the pin end start but was too early and over the line; meanwhile Philip Bown who got the pin and went on with Julia Bailey to sail the left hand side of the course along the St Helens shore (and passed the fort on the north side). Bill went hard right with Mike Toogood while Richard Ambler chose a more middle course up the first beat. Julia and Philip lifted into the mark on port tack, the latter tacking for the buoy but Julia sailed straight to it on port so won the beat. The other three helms approached the mark on starboard from the Island side of the fort. The run back to harbour was roly poly in lumpy seas (for the little Illusions anyway), with everyone taking care not to get into the lee of St Helens Fort. Julia maintained her lead on the run back to the harbour in the reducing breeze; Mike and Richard almost caught Bill who couldn't furl his genoa as it was jammed but he just managed to hold on to cross the club line in the harbour entrance ahead.
A great afternoon adventure and it was good to see the inaugurator of the Long Distance race, ex-Admiral of the Illusion Class Philip Woodford, looking so well back at the BSC after racing to present the Rainbow Trophy (a half model of the J Class yacht Rainbow) to Julia Bailey.