Wayfarer Open at Aldeburgh Yacht Club
by Mark Loeffler 18 Jul 2003 09:47 BST
12th/13th July
Mediterranean temperatures and easterly breezes blessed the 2003 Escargot trophy.
Race one was decided on the last beat with Luke and Nikki Andrews leading Graeme and Sara Hinton. Liz Feibush and Frances Lilley took third. A second race saw Feibush and Lilley leave the local boats for dead on their club line and hold the lead from Thomason and Alison Andrews. The Hintons recovered from a close encounter with a Loch Long to pull through to second.
On Sunday it became apparent that an excellent dinner and cheesy dancing to a half Irish band had sapped the mental resources of some. Luke and Nikki Andrews seemed none the worse for wear in the third race until short tacking against the tide allowed Mark and Isobel Loeffler to break through. The Hintons also passed to take their now customary second place.
Going into the final race there were four possible winners. The Loefflers had the speed and the lead but gybed onto a moored boat, a move ensuring disqualification. A tussle for overall honours ensued between Luke and Nikki Andrews and the Hintons. The Hintons fouled Andrews into sailing the wrong side of the final mark. The consequent recovery and penalty turns allowed Liz Feibush, now crewed by Jane Best, to serenely sail past both of them in the manner of the Australian speed skater to take the gold medal.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 10000 | Ten Grand | Liz Feibush | Frances Lilley/Jane Best | Orford S.C. | 5 |
| 2nd | 32 | Vagabond | Graeme Hinton | Sara Hinton | Aldeburgh Y.C. | 6 |
| 3rd | 8821 | Lammergeier II | Luke Andrews | Nikki Andrews | Aldeburgh Y.C. | 8 |
| 4th | 8100 | Out of the Blue | Thomasin Andrews | Alison Andrews | Aldeburgh Y.C. | 10 |
| 5th | 10228 | Psyco | Mark Loeffler | Isobel Loeffler | Aldeburgh Y.C. | 16 |