Bembridge Illusion Trafalgar Trophy 2021 & Guy Fawkes Trophy 2021

by Mike Samuelson 25 Oct 2021 07:16 BST 23-24 October 2021

Mid-morning Saturday, Chimet was recording 0 knots so on the face of it things were not looking too good for the Trafalgar Trophy that this year was programmed for just 4 races on Saturday afternoon. However, thanks to the internet, the experts found the forecast S/SW'erly breeze moving up the channel and hopefully reaching Bembridge around midday.

Given that there was no shortage of water (big Springs), the decision was therefore taken to delay launching for half an hour and to then race outside the harbour off Silver Beach.

A good decision! By about a quarter to one, there was a nice F2/3 SW'erly for the twenty two Illusions to start racing. The first start saw a number of boats OCS and with vision to the pin end blanked, the ROs had no option but to signal a General Recall.

Saturday Race 1 - first start

The second start saw Flag U displayed as the preparatory and a clean start. Fortunately for Mark Downer who had been delayed as he was attending a Sailing Committee meeting, the delay allowed him to join in the race mid-fleet.

Saturday Race 1 - second start

Ed Peel, Justin Biddle and Bruce Huber were the front runners and going into the third round, Ed had a safe lead, however about 50 metres from the windward mark he lost his steering and had to watch the fleet overtake him while he sorted it out. This left Justin and Bruce neck and neck as they headed to the line on the short leg from the leeward gate. Justin was just ahead but unaware that Bruce was close behind and able to make the line close to the Committee Boat, tacked to cries of 'protest'. After reviewing the incident in the bar afterwards he subsequently retired! This left Bruce in first, Alastair Speare-Cole in second and Colin Simonds in third.

Bembridge Illusion Trafalgar Trophy 2021 - photo © Mike Samuelson

With Flag U displayed for all the remaining starts, the second race got away first time with Raymond Simonds first to round the windward mark with Bruce and Colin initially not far behind, however as the race progressed, he built up a substantial lead and finished well ahead. Mike Toogood had a good race and finished fourth just ahead of Ed and Justin who crossed the line inches apart.

Saturday Race 2 start

With the breeze backing more southerly and increasing slightly to 12 knots or so, the third race was delayed a bit while the course was re-set. After a clean start the front runners were Mark Downer and Ed Peel and although the leeward gate was in place when they reached it on the first round, the port buoy went walk about soon afterwards which caught out some of those trying to round it!

Saturday Race 3 start

When recovered it transpired that the central pole had parted company just under the float so it was not a simple fix. To avoid further confusion everyone was told to round the remaining mark to port. Although there was not much in it, Ed crossed the finish line ahead of Mark with David Peerless coming through to take third ahead of Raymond and Justin.

Bembridge Illusion Trafalgar Trophy 2021 - photo © Mike Samuelson

With the breeze holding steady but increasing a couple of knots, the fourth and final race saw some very close racing.

Saturday Race 4 start

Mike Toogood was the early leader but was overwhelmed by the Huber, Downer, Peel and Raymond Simonds juggernaught as the race progressed! With the finish at the windward mark after thee and a half rounds, it was touch and go as to whether Bruce or Mark was going to win but as the windward boat, Bruce was just able to get his bows in front at the pin end of the line.

After an excellent afternoon's racing the overall winner was Bruce (5 points); Ed was second (9 points), Raymond was third (9 points) and Mark was fourth (also 9 points)!

Bembridge Illusion Trafalgar Trophy 2021 - photo © Mike Samuelson

Trafalgar Trophy 2021 Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1	Bruce Huber	101	2	2	5	1	5
2	Ed Peel	161	21	5	1	3	9
3	Raymond Simonds	165	7	1	4	4	9
4	Mark Downer	164	5	7	2	2	9
5	Mike Toogood	142	8	4	9	5	17
6	Colin Simonds	138	4	3	14	12	19
7	Alastair Speare‑Cole	135	3	13	8	8	19
8	Justin Biddle	85	R	6	5	9	20
9	David Peerless	140	10	8	3	13	21
10	Caroline Simonds	38	9	10	7	7	23
11	Owen Pay	105	6	18	12	10	28
12	Philip Russell	153	14	11	15	6	31
13	John Raymond	151	12	12	11	14	35
14	Sam Christie	149	22	17	10	11	38
15	Serena Gosling	122	11	16	13	17	40
16	Mike Issiais	152	16	15	16	16	47
17	John Birchenough	37	20	9	19	21	48
18	Laura Watson	130	19	14	17	20	50
19	Andrew Eddy	27	15	19	18	18	51
20	Matt Solan	131	18	22	20	15	53
21	Charles Glanville	156	13	21	22	S	56
22	Olly Laughton‑Scott	80	17	20	21	19	56
23	Penny Stanley	22	R	23	23	22	68

Conditions at midday on Sunday were looking very promising with mostly sunny periods and a nice F3 Southerly breeze. Perfect for the twenty or so (a few joined late) Illusions competing for the one day Guy Fawkes Trophy. With the course set in a similar location off Silver Beach to the previous day, the first start (under P) eventually got away about twenty minutes late and save for Raymond Simonds who had to come back after being pinged as OCS, was pretty good.

Sunday Start of Race 1

Colin Simonds was first round the windward mark hotly pursued by Bruce Huber, Ed Peel and Mark Downer. After cries of 'protest' by Bruce as he and Colin closed on the Committee Boat to complete the first round, Colin dropped back having taken a penalty. Bruce led over the second round but Mark, Ed and Raymond managed to get ahead by the end of the third round. Mid-fleet, Mike Issiais and Serena Gosling were so close that they were scored =11th.

The second start was called 'clear' although there was lot of shouting from the pin end of the line!

Sunday Start of Race 2

With the fleet well spread on split tacks on the beats, it was Raymond who lead the way ahead of Mark and Bruce. With black clouds forming over Brading and keen to get four races completed, the Race Officers decided (much to Raymond's delight) to stop the race after 2 rounds!

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2021 - photo © Mike Samuelson

With the rain holding off, the third race reverted back to being a three rounder. After a close start and Owen Pay probably right to have circled back, Mark rounded the windward mark ahead of Raymond, Bruce and Ed, but they were all close so any could have crossed the finish line in front. However, having changed places with Mark at least twice, Bruce pulled ahead on the third long beat and finished comfortably ahead.

Sunday Start of Race 3

Going into the fourth and final race and with black clouds still looking ominous and the breeze picking up to 18 knots at times, it was decided to start under Flag U so as to reduce the risk of a General Recall.

Sunday Start of Race 4

Probably not surprisingly it was Mark and Bruce who led the way; indeed as the race progressed and after Ed had retired with a halyard problem, they established a substantial lead. Nip and tuck all the way, it could have gone either way, but as they closed the finish at the windward mark after three and a half rounds, it was Bruce who was inches ahead. Although some way behind the front two, Alastair Speare-Cole and Mike Toogood took third and fourth.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2021 - photo © Mike Samuelson

Another excellent afternoon's racing with Bruce Huber picking up his second trophy of the weekend beating Mark Downer on a count back. Raymond Simmonds was third.

Guy Fawkes Trophy 2021 Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1	Bruce Huber	101	4	3	1	1	5
2	Mark Downer	164	1	2	2	2	5
3	Raymond Simonds	165	3	1	3	5	7
4	Ed Peel	161	2	4	4	R	10
5	Mike Toogood	142	6	5	5	4	14
6	Alastair Speare‑Cole	135	5	9	10	3	17
7	Justin Biddle	85	9	7	6	R	22
8	David Peerless	140	7	13	7	11	25
8	Colin Simonds	138	8	10	11	7	25
10	Caroline Simonds	38	10	14	8	8	26
11	Owen Pay	105	S	8	14	5	27
12	Mike Issiais	152	11	12	15	6	29
13	Andy Christie	149	13	6	12	S	31
14	Serena Gosling	122	11	R	9	12	32
15	Andrew Eddy	27	15	19	13	14	42
16	Simon Birchenough	136	15	11	13	S	44
17	John Birchenough	37	16	16	R	14	46
18	Richard Ambler	156	S	17	R	10	49
19	Monty Irwin	147	14	15	R	S	51
20	Anna Row	130	17	18	17	R	52
21	Ben Stoddart‑Stones	12	S	20	18	S	60