Bembridge Illusion Flying Dutchman

Although it was great to see him a month or so ago, sadly no sign of Rudi Jurg, our 'flying Dutchman', on the start line for this season's Flying Dutchman weekend. However there were sixteen other keen Illusionists who took to the water on the first Saturday of the New Year.

With a horrible forecast for Sunday, it was wisely decided to try to get four races completed and to bin Sunday's races all together. A wise decision, Chimet was reading a SW F7 with driving rain early afternoon Sunday!

Bembridge Illusion Flying Dutchman - photo © Mike Samuelson

A SSE'erly F4-5 breeze kept racing in the harbour; never the easiest wind direction for course setting as it ends up with the line and the leeward gate being in the channel, however it was very quiet on the visitor front so there were no clashes.

Start of Race 1 on Saturday

Two boats overcooked the start but as they were at the pin end, it was not possible to identify who they were. Bruce Huber lead at the windward marks but Jo and Mark Downer were close behind with Jo moving into second on the run to the leeward gate.

Rounding the leeward gate during Race 1 on Saturday

The majority kept to the left of the course and by the end of the second run Mark had moved into the lead with Bruce, Jo and Justin Biddle all close together. During the third round Justin moved into second; Bruce was third and Owen Pay was fourth.

The second race saw not only Flag U being brought into operation but also the Black Flag (twice)! It was clear that the line was just too much of a magnet for some!

Start (1) of Race 2 on Saturday

Start (2) of Race 2 on Saturday

Start (3) of Race 2 on Saturday

Owen and Will Lowe were the only two identified as being OCS on the third start and so they had to pay the penalty of a DSQ (BFS). Bruce was first round the windward marks with Mike Toogood and Mark, Alastair Speare-Cole, David Peerless and Jo close behind. Mike took over the lead on the second beat and having executed a good spinnaker drop at the leeward gate crossed the line safely ahead of both Mark and Bruce. As the neared the windward mark on the first round Mark and Bruce had had an 'altercation' with the latter lodging a protest which was discussed in the bar afterwards with the conclusion that it was a green flag incident so the results stand. Chat GPT thoughts based on the following question are interesting!

Racing Rules of Sailing - two boats on port tack close hauled. The leeward boat has luffing rights. Can he force the other boat to tack? With a subsidiary question 'define tack'.

Bembridge Illusion Flying Dutchman - photo © Mike Samuelson

Another Flag U followed by a Black Flag eventually got the third race away with Bruce (the disadvantage of having a coloured hull!) and Olly Laughton-Scot identified as being OCS and therefore being scored a DSQ (BFS). Mark with Bruce unaware of his DSQ until he finished had a close race with Mike and Oliver Morgan a few boat lengths away.

Start (1) of Race 3 on Saturday

Start (2) of Race 3 on Saturday

With everyone getting quite cold, it was decided to go straight for a Black Flag start for the fourth and final race of the day. Sadly for him, Olly found himself too close to the line with insufficient room to stop being pushed over and thus picking up his second DSQ (BFS).

Start of Race 4 on Saturday

By the first windward mark, Bruce has established a healthy lead over Justin and Mark, with Alastair and Monty Irwin not far behind. Bruce extended his lead on the second run and finished well ahead of Mark, Alastair and Justin (who had spinnaker issues so had to goose wing the second run which put him into fourth).

With four races completed and therefore a discard included in the final score, Mark was the winner of the Flying Dutchman Trophy. Bruce was second and Mike Toogood was third, a point ahead of Justin.

Bembridge Illusion Flying Dutchman - photo © Mike Samuelson

No racing next weekend as early/late tides. The Prince Philip Cup is programmed for the weekend of 18-19 January, with team racing over the weekend of 1-2 February.

Overall Results: