Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2024

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2024 © Mike Samuelson

It was great to see 24 Illusions racing on Saturday for the Guy Fawkes Trophy; they made quite a sight as they jinked their way through the last few moored boats in the harbour.

In the event, the decision to remain in the harbour so that BHYC had plenty of space outside for the final Regatta in the Isle of Wight Youth and Junior Championship series that they were running was a wise one as it got quite bumpy as the morning wore on.

With so many boats to launch, there was a 15 minute postponement for the first race while the fleet congregated off Fisherman's Pontoon. With the F2/F3 ENE breeze regularly varying at times by 20 degrees, setting the start line was not easy and with some ultra keen helms determined to be inches from the line prior to the start, the Race Officers had their work cut out. Mark Downer (back from their autumn cruise in the Med) overcooked it at the pin end and had to circle back before he could start. There were a couple of other boats OCS but they could not be identified so they got away with it!

Start of Race 1

Leeward Gate Race 1

Bruce Huber was first round the windward mark followed closely by Raymond Simonds, David Peerless, Rosie Gosling, Mike Toogood, Owen Pay and Bill Daniel. Raymond got very close to Bruce on the second round but was unable to quite match his speed and had to be content with second ahead of David and Mark.

Getting Race 2 away was not straight forward and saw first Flag U displayed and then the Black Flag!

Start (1) of Race 2

Start (2) of Race 2

Start (3) of Race 2

To be fair to David who appears OCS on the third start, there was about a one second delay in the hooter sounding so he got the benefit of doubt. As in the previous race, it was Bruce's lime green spinnaker that lead the way on the first run and despite best efforts by the chasing fleet was never in any real trouble and finished well ahead of Mark with Raymond third. Not surprisingly with so many boats racing, there were a number of very close finishes.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2024 - photo © Mike Samuelson

With time marching on, it was hoped that Flag U would act as a sufficient deterrent so that the third race of day would get away first time, however there were too many pushing their luck so it was another General Recall with the Black Flag being displayed for the second time.

Start (1) of Race 3
Start (2) of Race 3

Retrospectively it is clear from the video clip that Mike Issaias was well over, however the RO was distracted and failed to call him OCS so he got away with it! Bruce took his position at the front of the fleet for the third time but it was good to see Rory Morrison and Tim Lyle pressing him hard on the second round. Finishing at the windward mark after two and a half rounds, Bruce nearly got huffed by Raymond on the final beat to the finish at the windward mark, but just managed to hold on and cross the line half a boat length ahead. As in the previous race lots of very close finishes.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2024 - photo © Mike Samuelson

After an excellent low key supper a Bembridge SC on Saturday evening, a slightly reduced number of boats (18) headed down the harbour for three more races for the Guy Fawkes Trophy. Conditions were very similar to the day before (ESE F3) which offered some challenging and testing racing with, at times 30 degree wind shifts and the wind strength varying from 14 knots to 7.5 knots. With Bruce not racing, the opportunity for a new leader was wide open. After a clean start, Bill and Mark rounded the windward mark close together with David and Raymond not far behind.

Start of Race 1 (4) on Sunday

On the second round, Mark moved into the lead with Bill and Raymond in hanging onto his coattails. On the third run Mark has a problem with his spinnaker which dropped him to third place a couple of boat lengths behind Bill.

It was too much to expect a clean start for the second race, so it came as no great surprise that the first start saw a General Recall being required. Although Bill fell foul of the Flag U start sequence, everyone else played it safe and headed off to the windward mark either by remaining on starboard for as long as they could, or tacking early in the hopes of some favourable wind shifts.

Re-start of Race 2 (5) on Sunday

As they closed in on the windward mark, it was Owen Pay who found himself well ahead of David P, Raymond, Rory, Rosie and Oliver. On the second round Raymond moved into second and at one stage looked as if he would take his second win of the day, but it was not to be and Owen crossed the finish line (after two rounds), 5 seconds ahead. Oliver was fourth and Tim Lyle a very creditable fifth.

The final race of the day was again started under Flag U; although Bill was, by the narrowest of margins, OCS, he was well down the fleet as they beat up the harbour so it was decided to let him continue and get a finish. Again split tacks in the variable conditions. Jo Downer was first round the windward mark with husband Mark breathing down her neck.

Start of Race 3 (6) on Sunday

Mark moved into a substantial lead on the second and third beats and although it was looking as if Jo was going to hold onto second, Raymond sneaked up on her and went ahead of her on the final tack to the line at at the windward mark. Rory was fourth and Mike Issaias was fifth.

Two excellent days racing and with Bruce unable to sail on Sunday, the winner of the Guy Fawkes Trophy was last year's winner Raymond. Mark was second and David was third. No racing next weekend, but the Bailey Bowl the weekend after (16 & 17 November).

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2024 - photo © Mike Samuelson

Overall Results: