Illusion Bill's Barrel Trophy at Bembridge Sailing Club
by Alexis Dogilewski 11 Dec 2017 06:53 GMT
9-10 December 2017
Illusion Regatta Bill's Barrel Trophy prize winners © Alexis Dogilewski
The Illusion racing this weekend saw the strangest weather changes. Saturday started with the wind flicking around between 265 285 with a steady 6 knots and as the day went on the wind gradually fell to near nothing at the same time backing to East of South.
The first race got under way with little problems during the first round the wind started dropping and backing Bruce Huber showed that he is a patient man by taking the race from Mark Downer.
The marks were all relayed, shortening the course by a third and moving the marks in. Once again Bruce sailed away from the rest of the fleet, followed a long way back by Steve Warren Smith who was making his first outing of the season. Philip Bown took third with Flying Dutchman Rudy Jurg taking fourth place and in 5th place the class captain who had to negotiate his way back to the start line after being called OCS.
For the third race the daylight and wind were fast. The race committee once again reset the course as the wind had now gone round to east of south and there was just enough of it to get the fleet going. All but one of the 16 boats started a drifting race. Mark Downer led all the way to the penultimate mark when the wind dropped completely and the committee boat at this time put on its anchor light. Bruce Huber sailed another blinder beating Rudy Jurg with Mark Downer coming a disappointed 3rd. The navigation lights on the committee boat were turned on and racing finished for the day.
On Sunday only 6 boats turned up and under Bill's rules one is automatically disqualified from the regatta, but not the series, if one does not sail on both days. The order of the day was three short races. The wind which had been gusting up to 60 knots was abating rapidly. The first race started in 22 knots of breeze and was won by Mark Downer with battles for the lesser places. The final two races were all similar, Mark winning them both. We were however, between the wind and showers, treated a little glimpse of the sun along with a magnificent rainbow.
Bill Daniel the event manager of the regatta and donor of the trophy Bill's Barrel would like to thank Goddards Brewery for their brewing the beer and donating some of the prizes.
Bill's Barrel Results:
1. Mark Downer 13pts
2. Rudy Jurg 25pts
3. Jo Downer 27pts
4. George Downer 44pts
5. Bill Daniel 53pts
6. Michael Issaias 66pts
Well done Rudy Jurg for coming second overall as he had not been in an Illusion for over two years.