Felpham Sailing Club President's Prize, Tyger Trophy and Commodore's Cup
by James Gerwat 27 May 2019 21:35 BST
26-27 May 2019
Felpham SC President's Prize Race © Rachel Wilson
President's Prize
This is always an entertaining race at Felpham Sailing Club and the 2019 edition didn't disappoint. A novel race, where the helm (or crew) have to start on the promenade and run to their boat on the sound of the horn.
There are a few unusual rules to be followed, which, as always, are broken... usually by the same culprits. It was clearly defined on the notice board this year that boats were only allowed to be held in the water up to a pre-defined depth. (The knee caps of a dedicated duty person: James Rennie).
Paul Miller was clearly standing out of this zone, holding Jack Miller's Aero 7. Jack Miller had the best start. Callum Aldous & Abi Bentley (RS 200) had the worse start. It all looked good until the boom pointed to the sky and the boat toppled over at pace.... much laughter was heard from the clubhouse balcony.
Richard Bentley (Aero 7) politely followed them, just not quite as dramatically. The race to the windward mark was on... Jack Miller was being chased by the Lark (Martin Gillam & Connor Gillam) and the DZero of Mark Aldous was close behind.
By the third mark, Jack had pulled out a considerable lead which was to prove unassailable. The Dzero went out to sea while the chasing Aero 5s (Catherine Hemsley & Roshan Verghese) and the Aero7s (Richard Bentley & Chris Whitney) headed in shore. The Aeros overhauled the DZero at the windward mark.
The DZero (Mark Aldous) worked hard to make up the lost ground on the Aeros only for his halyard to fail the DZero sail came crashing down back to earth/water... the race was over for him.
The Aero 7s were having a great race. Chris Whitney managing to get ahead of Richard Bentley & closing in on the RS200 (Callum Aldous & Abi Bentley). However, just as he got past the RS200, on the downwind leg, the boat ejected him...Richard Bentley went past Chris Whitney and the RS200.
Meanwhile, the Aero 5s (Catherine Hemsley & Roshan Verghese) weren't that far behind. Mia Gray (Tera) persevered through the demanding wind & waves & despite a nasty knock managed to finish...as did Josh James in the Topper.
This year's Presidents Prize goes to Jack Miller in the Aero7, by a Fisherman's Mile (if there were a such a thing).
Also Rans:
2nd Catherine Hemsley
3rd Richard Bentley
Slow Fleet:
1st Mia Gray
2nd Josh James
The Tyger Trophy
The afternoon race was a pursuit race & only attracted 3 boats; an Aero 5 (Catherine Hemsley), an Aero 7 (Richard Bentley) and an RS200 (Callum Aldous & Abi Bentley). The Aero 5 had a 2minute 49 seconds head start over the Aero 7, the RS200 started a further minute behind the Aero 7... and that's the way they stayed. If anything, the Aero 5 increased its lead!
1st Catherine Hemsley
2nd Richard Bentley
3rd Callum Aldous & Abi Bentley
Commodore's Cup (Monday 27th May)
Three races were scheduled back to back, with 1 discard, for the prestigious Commodore's Cup. The wind was forecast to shift from the NW to the SW at some point in the day, so the Race Officer set 2 courses; Race 1 would be a windward/leeward course & races 2 & 3 a Triangle.
We started the day with a F4 gusting F5 and ended with F5 gusting F6.
Ross Fisher (Blaze) & Paul Miller (Phantom) lead the way on the first race. Further down the fleet were the Aero 5s of Catherine Hemsley & Roshan Verghese along with the Laser Radials of Chris Bull & Tom Twist.
After 40ish minutes of sailing, the handicaps were applied, the Blaze & the Aero 5 (Catherine Hemsley) were joint first, followed by the 2 radials.
The second race was similar in that the Phantom & Blaze disappeared in to the distance. This time the Phantom capsized on the last leg & fell back in the results. Once again, the two Aero 5s & the Laser Radials were ever present. Catherine Hemsley (Aero 5) took the win followed by Chris Bull (Radial), Roshan Verghese (Aero 5) & Tom Twist (Radial).
It was during the second race that the wind moved to the SW & increased... as did the waves. There were only 5 starters for the final race of the day.
The Supernova (James Gerwat) was first round the windward mark and took off towards the next mark with a nice lead on the water. However, the gybe had proved demanding all morning for the helm, and yet again he turned the Supernova upside down. The RS200 (Richard Bentley & Abi Bentley) kindly put in a sympathy capsize. The Aero 5 of Roshan Verghese stormed to the front and led the way.
The Supernova was upright quickly and overhauled the Aero 5 on the next beat... only to capsize again at the gybe mark. And so the pattern continued on each lap until both Aero 5s (Roshan Verghese & Catherine Hemsley) went off in to the lead.
Apparently the pirouetting Supernova gave great entertainment to those sailors ashore. So this final race was won by Roshan Verghese, followed by Catherine Hemsley, both Aero 5s.
In summary, the bank holiday weekend belonged to Catherine Hemsley for won the Tyger Trophy on Sunday & the Commodore's Cup on Monday.
Chris Bull wins the Laser Challenge Cup.
Full results are on the website, felphamsailingclub.co.uk/racing/results