Bembridge One Design Oppenheim Trophy
by Mike Samuelson 21 Apr 06:29 BST
15-18 April 2022
Bembridge One Design Oppenheim Trophy © Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore
With a mid-April Easter and a warm and sunny forecast, hopes were high for some keen racing for the Oppenheim Trophy over the four day 'holiday'. In the event, the only thing missing was the wind!
Although there was enough of a breeze for the Illusions to get three races in on Friday, there really wasn't enough for the One-Designs so they remained on their moorings.
Saturday was slightly better and six boats headed out under the watchful eyes of the race officers, Amanda Bunbury and Bella Janson for two races. With two short races and the wind F3 ENE, the course was Garland as the start, a beat to Fitzwilliam, back to Nainby and a final tack to Garland to finish. In the first race D Orange in No 12 got away to lead at Fitz followed by Mark Grz in No 9 and the rest of the fleet in short order behind. On the run to Nainby, the two leading boats held their lead with the other 4 interchanging positions. No 12 was followed home by No 9 then Tad Ross in No 8, Helen Mathieson in No 1, Charles Evans in No 10 and Jos Coad in No 6.
In the second race the wind had dropped off so it was a long beat to Fitz where Peter Summerhayes in No 6 was well clear of Mark Grz in No 9, followed by Lizzie Mathieson now helming No 1 and William Bland in No 12. Charles Evans retired. The places didn't change as they slowly made their way back to Nainby and then Garland to finish. A lovely sunny day to start the season and fortunately the wind held to enable everyone to finish.
Sadly only four boats rigged up for Easter Sunday's race. After a run in with the ODM when they were setting the line in the vicinity of Fitzwilliam, the ROs managed to do a regain and the four boats headed off towards Tara in the SE F3 breeze. No 9, helmed by Mark Grz lead from the start with the other three boats all very close until the second beat in from Derrick which saw them spread out and No 6 helmed by Rob Mathieson retire before reaching T. No 12 helmed by D Orange was second and No 1 helmed by Russ Fowler was third.
By late morning on Easter Monday, the light and variable conditions were not looking very encouraging, however five One-Designs decided to give it go and once they eventually assembled at Garland and headed off towards Drum with Pepe set as a wing mark. However on reaching Drum, the fickle breeze veered almost 180 degrees so the second leg became a second beat! No 1 helmed by Rob Mathieson was first round the first three marks, but then lost out on the penultimate leg to the finish and had to make do with a fourth. Sarah Marshall helming No 7 moved steadily up the order to finish first over a minute ahead of No 9 helmed by Penny Stanley with No 8 helmed by Jasper Ross very close behind. D Orange in No 12 was 'tail end charlie'. With four races counting, the Oppenheim trophy was won by No 9.