Flying 15 Andersen Trophy 2007 at Datchet Water Sailing Club

The Andersen Trophy is presented to Charles Apthorp (centre) and Adrian Simpson (left) by Vice Commodore Mike Rogers (right) © Brian Holloway

Twelve Fifteens competed for the Andersen Trophy as part of the Winter Warm Up at Datchet. This is an increase on numbers in recent years, which is in line with the increased numbers of FF’s at Datchet.

The first weekend was sailed in blustery conditions. Race one saw Charles Apthorp and David Rickard leading the fleet, racing in Brett Dingwall’s own new Mk 2 hull, but using his sails. Keeping the race team on their toes, he’d lent his own boat to the Razmilovic brothers (Ante has recently come 3rd in the red hot Etchells Worlds in Aus), so there were two 3591s on the lake! Fortunately one had an Apthorp blue hull and the other white. Welcome visitors Ian Linder and Kevin Sweetman from Burghfield, and Ian Lamey and Ron Elliott from Parkstone were giving local stalwarts Richard Jones and Howard Shawyer a welcome challenge. However a poor final beat saw Jones/Shawyer slip back to finish 5th. Lamey/Elliott 4th, The Razmilovics 3rd and Linder/Sweetman 2nd, and Apthorp/Rickard won. Race two saw the Razmilovics get in the FF groove and led from the first mark to the gun. Apthorp/Rickard chased Charles’ own boat home, with Linder/Sweetman rounding off a good day with a solid 3rd. Jones/Shawyer swapped places with Lamey/Elliott, to end the day tied for 4th place. Grayson Eacott and Gary Lane led the Silvers at the end of the weekend, sailing another Apthorp boat 3271, from Gary Phillips and Phil Tinsley in 3385.

The second weekend was sailed under grey skies, but with an unexpectedly fresh breeze allowing full hiking on some beats. An extremely prompt and on time start caught some out, but it was business as usual with Apthorp (crewed by Adrian Simpson this weekend) leading around the top mark, with Phil Owen and Keith Smith of Parkstone second and Linder/Sweetman third. Fourth placed Phillips and Tinsley led Jones and Shawyer. A mix up by Owen/Smith and Apthorp/Simpson saw Linder/Sweetman win, with Owen/Smith pipping Apthorp/Simpson on the line.

The final race saw Apthorp confirm his dominance of the regatta with another win, with Linder/Sweetman pushing them all the way, finishing just one point behind overall and second in the final race. Unfortunately, Lamey and Elliott were ill for the second weekend, and the Razmilovics were detained elsewhere, but that saw Jones/Shawyer secure third, and Silver winners Phillips/Tinsley fourth.

At the prize giving, Charles Apthorp, and Linder/Sweetman had done well enough in the 4 FF races to come 2nd and 4th respectively in the main Winter Warm Up – ensuring yet more glassware for their sideboards.

Many thanks to Datchet Commodore Huw Pearce, who was Race Officer, and his team of officials and safety coxswains for a well run event.

Overall Results: