2025 Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge Sailing Club

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge © BSC

It was great to see 21 boats out on Saturday 16th November for the first day of the Bailey Bowl Regatta. Conditions were very light first thing so the decision was taken by the Race Team to take the fleet outside the harbour the race course was set just off Silversands beach. It took a bit of time for the sailors to get from the harbour to the committee boat which meant we had to delay the start by 20 minutes to allow for the stragglers to catch up.

Video: Start of race 1

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge - photo © BSC

With the committee boat lying to the tide, making it difficult for the race team to check if any boats were OCS, the first race got off to a slow start with Mark Downer taking the lead on the first lap until Colin Simonds, in his new boat, managed to overtake Mark at the windward mark after the second beat, Colin managed to hold on to the lead to take the winning hoot after 3 laps. Further back the rest of the fleet battled with the light airs and by the time the winning hoot sounded some 40 minutes later the pack was quite spread out.

Video: Start of race 2

As the wind had built up to 8 - 9 knots the race team decided to extend the windward marks to give a longer beat now the breeze had built in and with the committee boat now lying to the wind, we had an excellent start to the second race. The fleet seemed to be divided over which side of the course was better, however the racing was much closer this time and the fleet was less spread out. At the sharp end, the lead kept switching around until eventually Raymond Simonds took the winning hoot.

Video: First Start of Race 3 (General Recall)

Video: Restart of Race 3 (Flag Uniform)

The Illusion class clearly wanted to make their Race Team work a little harder for the final race of the day. The first start concluded in a general recall as there were several boats over the line at the pin end. On the restart all got away cleanly and again with a steady breeze of around 8 - 9 knots we rounded off the day with a finish at the windward mark after 2 half laps. Mark Downer took the winning hoot after building up an impressive lead over the rest of the fleet.

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge - photo © BSC

The Illusion class returned on Sunday 17th November with 23 boats eager to get out and enjoy a good south westerly breeze. Given the fact that the breeze was consistent in the harbour the Race Team decided to stay within the harbour today making good use of the free space now unoccupied by moorings and moored boats for the winter.

Video: Start of Race 1 (4) on Sunday

The start of the first race was clean with all sailors making a good start Mark Downer led the first beat with Rory Morrison hot on his heels, they were neck and neck on the run down to the leeward gate and covered each other back up the course on the second beat. The decision to go left or right on the windward beat was mixed but it seemed that further up the course the breeze was superior on the left and on the third beat Mark managed to get ahead of Rory and stayed in the lead-up to receive the winning hoot after the 3rd lap. Further back the racing was nip and tuck to the finish.

Video: Start of Race 2 (5) on Sunday (General Recall)

Video: Restart of Race 2 (5) on Sunday, Flag U

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge - photo © BSC

The original start of race 2 on Sunday ended in a General Recall with several boats bunching up at the pin end. The Race Team repeated the start sequence under flag Uniform the race eventually got under way with an excellent start by all. The conditions were similar to the first race with perhaps an even stronger breeze on the left-hand side of the course, which proved just as in the first race to be the favourable side. Up at the front, it was business as usual with Mark Downer leading the way on the first lap this time with Raymond Symonds hot on his heels.

However, upon rounding the spreader mark for the second time it was clear that Ramond had caught Mark up. A short luffing match took place with Raymond coming out on top on this occasion, though this could also have something to do with the fact that at that moment Mark's spinnaker detached itself from the halyard meaning he was momentarily distracted by having to retrieve it from the water thus losing a bit of ground Mark resorted to using his jib for the rest of the downwind leg but couldn't catch Raymond back up. The race team called a halt to this race after 2 laps Raymond took the winning hoot with Mark coming home in second. Further back the fleet was once again nip and tuck with several close finishers on the line.

Video: Start of Race 3 (6) on Sunday, Flag U

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge - photo © BSC

Race 3 got under way cleanly, under flag uniform. Mark Downer, having sorted his spinnaker out in the gap between races, led the way from the start and pulled out an enormous lead over Raymond Symonds. Further back the rest of the fleet was close together up and down the course, once again the left-hand side of the course on the windward leg seemed to be the favoured side. Mark Downer took the winning hoot to claim first place closely followed by Raymond in second and Owen Pay rounded out the top three.

It was fantastic to see so many Illusions out racing over the weekend, a total of 44 over both days. Mark Downer claimed victory in the overall results, with Raymond Simonds second and David Russell-Jones rounding out the top three, fourth was Rory Morrison and fifth Oliver Morgan. No racing next weekend, but the Bills Barrel Regatta takes place the weekend after (30th November & 1st December).

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge - photo © BSC

Overall Results:

Bailey Bowl for Illusion class at Bembridge - photo © BSC