Annual Dinghy Prizegiving at Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club
by Brigitte Mann 8 Dec 2015 17:53 GMT
6 December 2015
Unfortunately the last race of the season of Torpoint Mosquito's winter
season had to be cancelled due to exceptionally high winds so the 2015
laying up lunch took place in a relaxed atmosphere as those attending did
not need to rush in from the water. Lunch was followed by the dinghy
section's annual prize giving which allows all the sailors and helpers to
get together to congratulate the trophy winners and thank all those
volunteers who help run the races and man the safety boats.
Against a
slideshow of photos taken during the year's racing, the adult prizes were
presented by the club's vice-commodore, Ian Scott, and the retiring sailing
secretary, dinghies - Jack Mann - took care of ceremonies. Cadet trainer,
Ronnie Carter (Laser) was awarded the first three trophies of the day - the
Autumn Series 2014, the Winter Series 2014 and for the first race of the
year, the Brass Monkey trophy which has a wooden stand made from the deck of
HMS Britannia the Royal Yacht during its refit in1987 at Devonport.
With his
wife, Vicky Carter, Ronnie also took the TMSC Cup for the Spring Series
2015, a series which had started with the sailors breaking the ice off their
covers and continued with challenging conditions and poor visibility but was
enlivened by frequent visits from the bottlenose dolphin.
The various
summer series saw Rob Loader win the Laser class in Monday series 1, with
Richard Richmond (Solo) taking the Medium Handicap Trophy and Tony Ayers &
James Fortt (Laser 2000) being awarded the Fast Handicap trophy. Thursday
Series 1 again saw Richard Richmond take the Medium Handicap trophy and Tony
Ayers & James Fortt take the Fast Handicap Trophy. Series 2 trophies went to
Jack Mann & Ron Goggin (Wanderer) for both medium handicaps and
grandfather/granddaughter team of Tony Ayers & Ellen Fortt for both Fast
Handicaps. Tony has sailed these waters since he was a cadet so it is not
surprising that he and Ellen have taken the Hornet Crystal Goblet for the
past three years in a row.
Special mention must go to George Dalley (Comet)
who, with young Ross Harvie, came third in the Monday Medium Handicap 1 and
second in the Monday Medium Handicap 2 and with daughter Philippa Smerdon,
second and third in the Thursday series.
After the Regatta and pursuit race
trophies were presented, the cadets took centre stage. Jack Mann, dinghy
secretary, awarded Bethan Cowd with the Grand Slam Trophy (presented by Mark
Helyer for the cadet who has best progressed into racing) mentioning that he
had watched her develop, turning up every week and if she is unable to crew
for someone, going out in a Topper on her own.
The cadet co-ordinator
(Philippa Smerdon) and cadet training officer (Ronnie Carter) presented the
prizes to our top young sailors - Logan Thornton was awarded the Albert
Jones Cup as Boy Cadet of the Year and Isabel Gilbey was awarded the Olive
Parsonage Cup as Girl Cadet of the Year.
In what has been another fantastic
year for the cadets through the hard work of Philippa, Ronnie, Alex
Smerdon, Bob Holder and all the parents who help out on the shore and on the
water, the club has started to run a second cadet night on Friday evenings.
Special awards were made to Alex Smerdon (sailor who regularly turns up),
Matt Theobald (Paddle of Persistence) and Tony Ayers (Best Overall Helm)
but especially to Paul Fortt who, in recognition for all his hard work in
the race hut, was awarded the A Horrell Cup for Services to Dinghies.
Finally, to conclude the event, on behalf of all the sailors, George Dalley
presented a small token to show their gratitude to the volunteers who help
run the dinghy section and man the safety boats whatever the weather.
List of Prizes
See the photo gallery above
Summer Series Monday 1:
Lasers - Rob Loader
Medium Handicap - Richard Richmond (Solo)
Fast Handicap - Tony Ayers & James Fortt (Laser 2000)
Summer Series Thursday 1:
Medium Handicap - Richard Richmond (Solo)
Fast Handicap - Tony Ayers & James Fortt (Laser 2000)
Summer Series Monday 2:
Medium Handicap - Jack Mann & Ron Goggin (Wanderer)
Fast Handicap - Tony Ayers & Ellen Fortt (Laser 2000)
Summer Series Thursday 2:
Medium Handicap - Jack Mann & Ron Goggin (Wanderer)
Fast Handicap - Tony Ayers & Ellen Fortt (Laser 2000)
Liz Harris Cup for charity race in aid of St Luke's Hospice:
First dinghy - Roger Holman & Stefano Franzolini
Best Overall - Helm Tony Ayers
Autumn Series 2014 - Ronnie Carter (Laser)
Winter Series 2014 - Ronnie Carter (Laser)
Brass Monkey Race 2015 - Ronnie Carter (Laser)
Spring series 2015 - Ronnie Carter & Vicky Carter (Laser 2000)
Regatta sponsored by GSR Chandlery - Tony Ayers & James Fortt (Laser 2000)
Nearly St Germans Pursuit Race - Keith Watts (Laser)
Three Rivers Pursuit Race - Ronnie Carter & Alex Smerdon (Laser 2000)
Cadet Best Progressed Into Racing - Beth Cowd
Boy Cadet of the Year - Logan Thornton
Girl Cadet of the Year - Isabel Gilbey
Sailor Who Regularly Turns Up - Alex Smerdon
Paddle of Persistence - Matt Theobald
Services to Dinghies - Paul Fortt
Volunteers mentioned in dispatches who help keep the section running include: Jenny Roberts, Gareth Jones, Paul Fortt, Brigitte Mann, Graham McDermott, Bill Shimell, Hugh Napp,
Ian Scott, Barbara Dalley, Richard Richmond, Robby Roberts, Austin Fuller, Jim Palmer, Stevie England, Nigel Bunker, Dave Milsom etc.