Foxer Stiletto Cup at Hamble River Sailing Club
by Catrina Southworth 2 Aug 2015 14:39 BST
1 August 2015
Fabulous weather greeted the participants at the Hamble River Sailing Club for the Vixens, the all girl fleet for the Foxers, who were taking part in the annual Stiletto Cup.
With the international yachtsman and Volvo sailor extraordinaire Rob Greenhalgh as Race Officer, class captain John Duff and Paul Lovejoy on the Committee Boat the racing was going to be good.
Suzie Hamel stormed to the lead on the first race, then a 'tom tom failure' allowed room for Tash Ault to get in for her first win of the day with Suzie Brushett second.
During the six races there were numerous place changes. Helpful on the water coaching was orchestrated by Georgie Baker, Shaun Barber and Darren Baker, and as the day progressed the girls got up to pace. Suzie Hamel stormed the second race.
The fleet sailed upright all day, though Hattie Thorne hugged a Cornish crabber not just once but twice. On the water support for Rosie O'Donnel and Catrina Southworth was provided by their husbands and offspring.
Jo Clatworthy managed to keep Shaun's boat out of trouble which is brilliant as he is the current Foxer Doctor; her neat sailing must have won her awards at home. However, the practice really worked for Emma Duckworth who finished the final race second. Jennie Austin remembered her starts but got engaged in a time warp at the windward mark.
Never ever at the back of the fleet, Suzie Bruschette finished the day with three wins and a well-deserved presentation of the Stiletto cup from John Duff.
A fabulous day out was followed by an amazing spread of hams, cheeses, salads, bread and melon put on by Philippa Pountain, all washed down with buckets of Prosecco, generously topped up by the Bakers.
The general consensus was that the girls need to get more practice and to this end we are working on one Sunday a month providing a rota for a walk on the Warsash side whilst both Mummy and Daddy sail Foxers.
The results in reverse order...
Hattie Thorne – 44 points
Jennie Austin – 35 points
Rosie O'Donnell – 31 points
Emma Duckworth – 26 points
Catrina Southworth – 22 points
Jo Clatworthy – 20 points
Suzie Hamel – 13 points – wash bag from SO31 Loft
Tasha Ault – 11 points – dry bag from SO31 Loft
Suzie Bruchett – 7 points – the Stilletto cup