Cadet Alf Simmonds Trophy at Stone Sailing Club sponsored by Zhik
by Neil Collingridge 11 May 2018 15:15 BST
5-6 May 2018
After the fog at Weymouth a few weeks earlier all eyes were on the forecast for the Alf Simmonds Trophy sponsored by Zhik at Stone Sailing Club over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
The menu on offer had starters of bacon butties, Essex style, whilst waiting for the breeze, a main course of wall to wall sunshine (slap it all over or fry), with strong tides and fickle breezes to follow... certainly a tricky offering to choose from, if choices were there at all.
After about an hour's delay for the wind Race 1 got under way with a foul tide beat up towards Bradwell power station. Most of the fleet were partying hard up at the Committee boat trying to avoid the tide but in the process killing what little wind there was for each other. Three boats (let's call them party poopers) on their lonesome at the pin got away cleanly to pop onto port after a short starboard hitch and crossed the peloton comfortably back to the Bradwell shore with its tidal shelter. At the top Angus Collingridge and Ed Fletcher led from Hazel Whittle and Gwen Thorogood with Connor Line and Toby Bush chasing in third. As the race progressed the sailors were put firmly on notice that a good start was going to be imperative all weekend as the track became pretty one sided with passing opportunities few and far between. These 3 boats finished in the order they rounded the first windward. One pair not in need of passing opportunities was Olivia Gowland and Hettie Thorogood in Regatta fleet who made up the 5 minutes deficit, mixed it up with the back of the main fleet and finished well ahead of Jessica Watling and Lily Buckton in second.
On to Race 2. Again a premium on getting away cleanly, with a long slow slog to the top mark cheating the tide but few if any opportunities to take the shifts. Calling the long layline across the foul tide to the windward was vital with some over-standing but faring better than those trying to put a short hitch in on port and against the flooding tide in the congested zone -"don't even think about it!".
Angus and Ed led at the top from Charlotte Videlo and Tom Shepherd, hard on their heels, and Eli Watling and George Little also in touch. This time Charlotte found a lift on the second beat which eluded Angus and took on the baton for the second lap as the fleet progressively stretched out behind. Up to the final windward and Angus had snuck back into the front to lead Eli and then Charlotte down to the finish. Once again Olivia and Hettie leading Regatta fleet got in amongst the main fleet back markers and took the win from Toni and Megara Wilkinson.
Getting a little late in the day but with still an oh so gentle breeze, warm(ish) sunshine and the tide about to turn, Race 3 got under way just after 4pm. This time new faces up at the front - Kate White and Rhona Enkel ahead of Angus and Ed and Eli and George. Round they went - surprisingly (or maybe not... baaah) they all followed like sheep inshore despite the switch in the tide. No matter, Kate wins at the finish just before 5 o'clock (parents muttering about sun, yardarms and bar opening times) with Angus second and Eli third. Once again who is that winning Regatta fleet? Olivia and Hettie of course again ahead of Toni and Megara.
Day 2 and more sunshine, still small voice of calm. Lots of coffee for parents on the lawn after the previous night's barbecue and young sailors running a mock - where do they get their energy? Eventually at ten to two the AP is down with a 4.30 pm cutoff looming.
So off we go, Arky our race officer who doesn't know the meaning of defeat rattling them in although for Race 4 the line needed an extra 15 degrees to port to encourage some away from the Committee boat party. At the second attempt a bit of a scrum mid to pin left Ethan Davey and Alex Enkel to lead up the beat and pull out a sizeable lead at the top. Phoebe Bradshaw and Mimi Slump set about closing them down reducing the gap first at the gybe and yet more by the leeward. But the Silver fleet sailors were not yielding to the pressure from the squad sailors and having been overtaken on the second lap they fought back to once again lead upwind. This they held round lap 3 to record a first big race win holding off the chasing pack of Phoebe, Hazel and Charlotte. Impressive. Back in the Regatta fleet it was all Olivia and Hettie again - 4th win of four once again from the Wilkinson girls in second.
Quick turnaround and into Race 5. This time Bea and Ines Green pop out of the right hand end of the line and head for the shore sailing fast and free. Their turn to give the usual suspects a run for their money. Up the second best Angus has passed them with Connor also piling on the pressure but up the third beat Angus and Ed out in front find a header which eludes Bea who calmly hits back with the lead at the top. One run to go and she holds on, the Rasta-coloured kite leading across the finish for another popular first big race win. Angus and Ed take second and the Alf Simmonds Trophy with a race to spare with Connor third. Olivia and Hettie also wrap up proceedings a race early in the Regatta fleet with their 5th win in a row.
So time for just one more? Of course there is... but hang on what's this? The slacker tide causes some line jumping and a last minute postponement. Important for the overall Worlds Selector series to get all 6 in and keep alive the possibility of 3 discards so Arky takes no prisoners and out comes his U flag for the first time all weekend. I'm sure I don't have to mention that in Regatta fleet Olivia and Hettie complete the clean sweep with Race 6 - they join the main fleet for the next event as do Toni and Megara who pick up yet another 2nd to complete their series. Neither boats should be overawed by the step up in a few weeks time having sailed so consistently.
Back in the main fleet and this time Charlotte and Tom's turn to lead from start to finish. Angus looks to be catching but he hits the windward mark and swivels. He's later told that he doesn't have to re-round the mark... that went out of the rule book in the 80s...but no matter, that leaves Charlotte comfortably ahead to win a shortened race at the third windward. Angus second and Eli finishing strongly in 3rd to pip Ethan just before the line.
Back ashore it's a late finish and late prize giving but no-one cares; its bank holiday tomorrow so everyone heads home (mostly) happy but (all) tired. Again some wonderful prizes from Zhik - big thank-you to them.
Two qualifying events now done and dusted and as ever the 7 coveted places for the world team for Bodstedt, Germany are going to take some winning, which of course is as it should be. To date we've had 2 light wind affairs at Weymouth and Stone and there are a few crews keeping everything crossed for some big breeze and waves at Pevensey. Whatever dish the menu serves up there you can be pretty sure things will go to the wire - the points are pretty tight amongst those both currently occupying and those currently just outside the qualifying places. Experience tells us (and don't we know it) "it's never over till it's over" - bring it on Pevensey!
Overall Results: