Bembridge Week 2020
by Mike Samuelson 17 Aug 2020 09:45 BST
10-16 August 2020
As there was no Cowes Week, the Redwings (and One-Designs) raced every day in 'Bembridge Week'. Notwithstanding quite difficult tides and light and fickle breezes, twelve Redwings (most days) and up to eight One-Designs enjoyed some excellent racing every day.
Although rather sadly it was dull and overcast, Friday's early morning start at 07:45 was certainly the earliest the Redwings had raced for many decades; perhaps indeed ever!
With the One-Designs programmed that morning for their annual Cartwright prize race that requires an old style Olympic course, and a northerly F3 breeze, a triangle, sausage, triangle course using Britten, Nainby and Garland work perfectly.
With their final windward mark extended to Derrick, Colin Samuelson in Toucan led the way for most of the race; David McCue in Musicus had a good final round and pushed Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II into third place.
Meanwhile, Russ Fowler in No 1 One-Design sailed a canny race to keep ahead of Mark Gregorczyk in No 9 on each round; Hugh Doherty in No 10 was close on the first two rounds but then dropped back on the third.
Start of the Redwing race Friday 14th August:
Start of the One-Design race Friday 14th August:
With the best seven races to count, the Bembridge Week champion was Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II with 19 points; Harlequin, helmed by Matt Alexander was second with 28 points and Mike Toogood in Tara was third with 30.3 points.
The One-Designs were competing throughout the week for the Coad Trophy which was won by No 1, helmed by Simon Allocca & Russ Fowler; second was Mark Gregorczyk in No 9 and Alexander Ross & Jos Coad in No 8 were third. Earlier in the week, Mark won the Woodroffe Bowl and Simon & Russ won the Lowry-Corry Cup.
With the keelboats mostly racing offshore, the Scows had a very successful 'Scow Week' closer inshore. Their 'Scow Parade' round St Helens Fort on Tuesday evening was very well supported and enjoyed by all.
On Sunday morning, BSC hosted the annual Solent (Bembridge) Scow Championships. Although it started off dry, those who persevered to complete the two races in the light and fickle breeze ended up soaked to the skin! Set as a two round windward leeward course between Nainby and Garland, the first race was shortened at Garland after one and a half rounds after the wind died off.
Start of the Scow Championships - Race 1 - Sunday 16th August:
Oliver Morgan just held onto his first round lead with Jodi Spence nearly beating him to the line. Jerry Summers was third. Although a number went home, a surprising number held on for the second race after the breeze switched 180 degrees and increased slightly. Sadly, it was just playing with them and having become a bit of a lottery, it was shortened at the spreader close to Nainby. Jerry Summers was first to reach the line just ahead of Colin Samuelson in one of the very original wooden Scows; Jodi Spence was third. This meant that Jerry was overall first with 4 points, Oliver was second (after a count back) with five points and Jodi was third also with five points.