Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy at Bembridge Sailing Club
by Mike Samuelson 2 Nov 2015 12:58 GMT
31 October - 1 November 2015
No fireworks for this year's Illusion Guy Fawkes Regatta in Bembridge harbour over the weekend, however there were the usual close calls at the windward & leeward marks and at the starts of the second & third races on Saturday. Raymond Simonds was unbeatable in the light and shifty ESE breeze on Saturday and finished the day well ahead of the rest of the fleet. Although they made up for it on the second & third races, unusually for the Illusion fleet, the start of the first race was nothing to write home about - indeed it was not even worth photographing! However, it was good to see the Class Admiral, Robin Ebsworth just ahead of the rest of the fleet after the first beat and spinnaker run to the leeward mark; sadly he was unable to keep the momentum going and Raymond & Bill Daniels built up a huge lead ahead of newcomer Phil Russell who came third and Alastair Speare-Cole who was fourth.
The second start was considerably better with all ten boats crossing the line almost together. With the breeze flicking 10 degrees plus on more than one occasion, it was a bit of a lottery as to which side of the course would work out best. Well done to Serena Gosling who round the windward mark in front and managed to hold on to the lead until about half way up the second beat when Raymond seemed to power through effortlessly into the lead. Despite pressure from Philip Bown, Bill Daniels & Alastair Speare-Cole who all finished with a couple of seconds of each other, Serena showed great concentration and managed to just hold onto a well deserved second place.
The start of the third race was tight, however Alastair just over cooked it at the far end of the line and had to re-start after being pronounced OCS. Bill, who was even closer to the pin decided to play safe so also returned. Raymond was sandwiched between the two and was given the benefit of the doubt as it was impossible to see whether he too had been over the line at the start. With the breeze dropping and becoming even more fickle, it was good to see Philip Bown & Andy Christie managing to keep Raymond in their sites even if he did finish well ahead at the windward mark after two and a half rounds. Bill Daniels did well to recover from his self-imposed penalty at the start and came in fourth.
On Sunday, the Race Officers could have done with a few brooms to try to sweep away the fog which greeted the 11 Illusionists who arrived at BSC on All Hallows Days. A very gentle North-easterly and thick gloom did not bode well but shortly before midday a flicky 5 knot breeze filled in and the fog began to dissipate.
A short course was set in the Harbour and Raymond Simonds started where he has left off on Saturday with another victory; Mark Downer hadn't sailed on the first day and pushed Raymond hard but had to settle for second place with Bill in Daniels in third.
The second race took the same format although Mark did lead Raymond briefly on the second beat. The middle of the fleet had a much more competitive day with much position changing and some of the newbies showing that the Illusions are not as scary as some put about! Mind you, 5 knots max breeze and 15 degreesC temperature give a more gentle introduction than a February blaster.
The third & final race was postponed whilst the course was reset for a 30 degrees right hand shift and the start proved the Raymond Simonds is human as he found himself OCS. Mark Downer got away with Philip Bown giving chase. The sun briefly appeared and killed what little breeze there was. Again the middle of the fleet had the most competitive racing with a number of positions changing and the fleet splitting to try to reach the finish line before the water ran out. Jo Downer came home in third just heading Andrew Christie off at the line.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Raymond Simonds | 23 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | 5 |
| 2 | Bill Daniels | 68 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 18 |
| 3 | Philip Bown | 130 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 20 |
| 4 | Serena Gosling | 122 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 27 |
| 5 | Andy Christie | 149W | 9 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 27 |
| 6 | Mark Downer | 124 | S | S | S | 2 | 2 | 1 | 35 |
| 7 | Jonathan Hill | 149R | 8 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 35 |
| 8 | Philip Russell | 23G | 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 39 |
| 9 | Jo Downer | 123 | S | S | S | 4 | 7 | 3 | 44 |
| 10 | Alastair Speare‑Cole | 135 | 4 | 5 | 5 | S | S | S | 44 |
| 11 | John Raymond | 151 | S | S | S | 6 | 3 | 6 | 45 |
| 12 | Robin Ebsworth | 12 | 6 | 9 | 6 | S | S | S | 51 |
| 13 | Robin Rotherwick | 22 | 10 | 10 | 8 | S | S | S | 58 |
| 14 | Mike Till | 155 | S | S | S | 11 | 10 | 10 | 61 |
Start of Race 2 on Saturday
Start of Race 3 on Saturday
Next Regatta is the Bailey Bowl on Saturday & Sunday 14th & 15th November.