Illusion Picnic Hamper at Bembridge Sailing Club

Bembridge Illusions Picnic Hamper © Mike Samuelson

Bembridge Illusions Picnic Hamper © Mike Samuelson

Despite the early start on Saturday, eight Illusions took to the water to try to win this year's Picnic Hamper full of goodies. Although sadly last year's winner Julia Bailey was away, the hamper was still well stocked!

Although his first Illusion racing of the season, it came as no great surprise that hot shot Graham Sunderland, after a very successful summer in Cowes, lead all four races on Saturday from the start to the finish. In the first race Guy Mattinson & Mike Toogood had a close race with Guy coming in second a couple of boat lengths ahead.

Having missed the first race, Bill Daniels made up for it in the next three and although never managing to get close enough to put Graham under pressure, he showed that he was clearly the next strongest out racing by posting three second places ahead of Guy.

The third race had an interesting start with a number of helms going for a port end start, and it was good to see Robin Rotherwick keeping up with Guy and coming in fourth. The fourth and final race saw the best start of the day and with the breeze dropping off, there was some close racing throughout the fleet. Bill, Guy & Mike were at times neck & neck, as were Hugh Doherty & Robin and newcomer Phil Russell & Mike Till.

Having had an extra hour in bed, it was good to see eleven sailors rigging their boats on Sunday morning. It was therefore all the more disappointing that racing had to be abandoned after the first, one round, race when the whispers of a breeze disappeared and the tide started dropping. Having assisted most of the boats to get out of the harbour in an attempt to find what little wind there was, the Race Officers managed to set a short course off Silver Beach and to get the first race of the day underway without too long a postponement. Indeed it was a surprisingly good start given the paucity of wind.

Light airs expert James Meaning demonstrated an interesting tactic; he approached the line on port and sailed behind the rest of the fleet on starboard so that he could then cross the line on starboard close to the Committee boat and upwind of everyone else. So having been last across the line, he was first round the windward mark just ahead of Saturday's winner, Graham Sunderland. James & Graham managed to hold onto the front two places on the slow run back to the leeward gate. With what little breeze there was veering to the North West and dying, it was decided to finish after just one round. Definitely the right decision and although all bar one stuck it out to the bitter end and finished, it was clear that further racing was impractical so everyone headed, albeit very slowly, back into the harbour for an early drink in the bar!

Overall Results:

Guy Fawkes Trophy, Saturday & Sunday 31st October & 1st November.

Start of 3rd race on Saturday

Start of the 4th race on Saturday

Start of the only race on Sunday