Bembridge SC Redwings Evert de Kort Cup & One-Designs Coad Trophy Weekend
by Mike Samuelson 16 Jun 22:21 BST
15-16 June 2019
Bembridge Redwing Evert de Kort Cup © Mike Samuelson
After last weekend's disappointment when there was no racing because of the strong winds on Friday evening and Saturday and the wrong tides for Sunday, there were high hopes for some good racing this weekend. In the event, there were reasonable numbers of boats out on Saturday (six Redwings & nine One-Designs) but only three Redwings & one One-Design on Sunday.
The steady F5 SW breeze (gusting 20 knots) and tight line certainly made it interesting for the first Redwing start on Saturday morning.
Start of the first Redwing race on Saturday
John Raymond in Harlequin (18), Colin Samuelson in Toucan (11) and James Tate in Rosetta (4) lead the fleet on the first beat from Drum to Garland. Harlequin and Toucan were neck and neck on the run to Derrick. On the second round, Toucan and Rosetta managed to get past Harlequin by the time they got back to the finish (after 50 minutes) at Britten. Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence (41) was 4th, Peter Grimaldi in Redwing (21) was 5th and Richard Jessel in Blue Jay 2 was 6th. The back two decided that they had had enough so headed back to their moorings before the start of the second, considerably shorter (from Drum to Garland, Derrick and finished at Under Tyne) race. Toucan took an early lead ahead of Quintessence, however the order was reversed by the time they reached the finish line with No 41 crossing the line a nose ahead of No 11. Rosseta was 3rd and Harlequin was 4th.
The nine One-Designs meanwhile had a different course for their first race (towards the Coad Trophy) with Pepe as the windward mark, and Drum then Derrick as their leeward marks. Suzie Beart in No 5 and Norman Marshall in No 7 went for pin end starts on Port tack and got into an early lead after the rest struggled to cross the line on starboard.
Start of the first One-Design race on Saturday
Hugh Doherty in No 10 and Robin Joy in No 8 tacked too early having mistaken Old Church for Pepe, so had to be content with rounding just behind No 5. These three changed positions a number of times as they battled for the lead, but after a further two runs and two beats, it was No 10 who managed to just do enough to finish first ahead of No 5 with No 8 a close third. William Bland in No 12 was fourth. In the second much shorter race in which new helms were encouraged to have a go, Suzie in No 5 and Hugh in No 10 made successful pin end starts on port tack and by the time they reached the leeward mark (Britten) it was a two boat race; indeed Suzie was so far ahead it was really only a one boat race. However, as the saying goes, 'its not all over until the fat lady sings', and No 10 ended up crossing the line at Under Tyne just in front. Tim Bonham in No 2 was third.
Sunday morning was breezy (SSW 5), damp and dismal with lots of discussion about whether anyone was going to go racing. In the event, three Redwings and one One-Design decided to give it a go. Using Drum for the start, Pepe as the windward mark and Derrick as the leeward mark, the St Helens shore provided a degree of protection. With only a singleton One-Design racing, Hugh Doherty in No 10, crewed by Jeremy Hine, started with the Redwings. After a good start by all, they made good progress to Pepe, particularly as the wind freed as it funnelled through the harbour entrance.
Start of the Redwing & One-Design race on Sunday
James Tate in Rosetta was first round just ahead of Colin Samuelson in Toucan and Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence. However the order had changed by the time they reached Derrick in diminishing visibility with Colin just ahead and James in third. They had an excellent beat back to Pepe which they reached rather quicker than the ROs had planned for with little separating them. However, Robin in Quintessence with Mark Downer and Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore crewing and offering tactical advice held his nerve and finished six seconds ahead of James in Rosetta with Colin in Toucan crossing the line five seconds later. Hugh & Jeremy in No 10 finished four minutes behind - not bad given that they were using small sails. A rather shorter race than the norm and in hindsight it probably should have been made longer however at least it blew a few cobwebs away and everyone was back for lunch!
Congratulations to Robin who won the Evert de Kort Cup after a count back with Colin; and also to Hugh who won all three One-Design races.
Next weekend, weather permitting, is the annual trip to Itchenor Sailing Club.