Illusion Icebreaker at Bembridge Sailing Club

Safety RIB helping Mike Toogood bail out on Saturday during the Bembridge Illusions Icebreaker © Mike Samuelson

What a difference 24 hours can make during the Bembridge Illusions Icebreaker © Mike Samuelson

With a wet and windy forecast, it was perhaps not surprising that there were only 9 takers on Saturday for the annual Icebreaker Regatta - the oldest trophy in the Illusion racing programme. Although it was certainly wet, the SSW'erly breeze initially looked as if it was going to stay reasonably light, however half way through the first race it began to veer SW'erly and increase quite dramatically. Indeed by the start of the second race there were gusts of 26 knots which certainly put it into survival conditions for all but the top two or three of the nine boats racing.

A 15 degree wind shift during the start sequence for Saturday's first race resulted in a General Recall, however the outer distance mark was quickly re-positioned and the subsequent restart (using the P Flag) was clean. Mark Downer was soon out in front and although chased home by his wife Jo, Raymond Simonds & Julia Bailey, he never looked as though he was going to be caught.

With the wind increasing dramatically at the start of the second race he did not initially have it all his own way and Julia led for the first round, however, he powered to the front during the second round; Raymond was third & Jo was fourth. Fortunately the safety RIB crewed by Fred Warren-Smith & Alec Downer was quickly on the scene when Mike Toogood's boat took in too much water for Mike to pump out and having helped him bail it out, towed him safely back to the Illusion Quay.

Although not quite as strong as earlier, conditions for the final race of the day were certainly still pretty challenging and John Raymond & Richard Ambler both decided to call it a day. Mark again demonstrated his strong wind dominance but full marks to Julia, Raymond & Jo who were not that far behind him. Also to Steve Warren-Smith & Robin Ebsworth who managed to successfully survive the strong winds.

Sunday was dry and although the wind was forecast to be variable, in the event the fleet of thirteen boats saw it remain a steady F2 from the ENE for all three races, so was more about tactics than survival. Although only inches at times, all three races had clean starts and split fleets going up the beat.

In the first race of the day Raymond Simonds was in the lead for the whole of the race only to be overtaken within feet of the line by Mark Downer who ghosted through to win by a couple of inches. Conditions suited Philip Bown who was third with James Meaning fourth.

Having timed his start to perfection, Raymond was again out in front for most of the second race, however James slowly reined him in and it was neck and neck as they came to the finish line and it was only after the Race Officers had reviewed the result that Raymond was announced the winner.

The start of the third and final race of the day was another text book example of why Illusion sailing is so addictive - at least half the fleet were only inches from the line when the hooter went. At the first windward mark Mark was already out in front and despite best efforts by James Meaning in the final round never really looked as if he was going to be caught and so won the Icebreaker Trophy for the second year running. Meanwhile, Philip Bown took another third place and Raymond Simonds had to make do with a fourth. Although he was at the back, well done to young Alex Downer who used a loaner boat and successfully completed all three races."

Bembridge Illusions Icebreaker prize giving but without Raymond (2nd) or Julia (3rd) who had left early! - photo © Mike Samuelson

Overall Results:

Next Regatta: Piers' January Jacket - 10th & 11th January.

Second start of Race 1 on Saturday

Spinnakers as the breeze increased

Start of Race 2 on Saturday

Spinnakers during Race 2