Easter Weekend Bembridge One-Design Racing for the Oppenheim Trophy
by Robin Joy, Mike Samuelson & Laurence Blackburn 23 Apr 2025 09:58 BST
18-21 April 2025
Friday 18th April (by Robin Joy)
As usual Good Friday was the first day of the year's keelboat racing at BSC; but unfortunately the rain and F5 from the SE attracted only thee boats to the race course. Two rounds of a short windward/leeward course was set, and all three boats made impressive starts at Garland, just feet from the line. It was Xander Shaw in No 6 who got the better of the challenging rollers coming from the south east, and he narrowly led Penny Stanley in No 9 and Tad Ross in No 8 at Under Tyne, the windward mark. The run back down to Nainby gave all three boats a few surfs, even under the small mains they had set. Xander couldn't be caught, and the order remained the same over the second round to the finish.
Tad was single handed, so called it a day and headed back in to the harbour, but Xander and Mark Grzegorczyk, now helming No9, started Race 2, over the same course. Regrettably Xander suffered an equipment failure, and retired shortly after the start, so Mark sailed on to the windward mark to win, with the race being halted there.
Sea Breeze was not the most comfortable place to be at anchor in the conditions, so the two queasy Race Officers were both very glad to get back to terra firma!
Saturday 19th April (by Robin Joy)
Two boats only (Tad Ross in No 8 and D. Orange helming No 9) made it to the start line on Saturday, which was beautifully sunny, although E F7 overnight had left even bigger waves than the previous day. The wind had eased to about 20kts, but the conditions remained at the upper end of the BODs' range. Two short races had been requested by the skippers, so a simple windward/leeward course was again set. At the end of the first round the boats were overlapping, and the close racing continued, with Tad just getting the upper hand to take a narrow win.
The second race was set for just one round, and Mark G, now helming No 9, started strongly, and remained ahead of Tad to the finish, making it honours even between the two boats on the day.
Sunday 20th April (by Mike Samuelson)
Sunday's forecast looked pretty reasonable, although in the event there was a little less breeze and certainly not much sun! Four boats (No 1, No 6, No 7 & No 9) rigged up and headed out of the harbour to roughly where Old Church is normally located, but as it has yet to been laid by BHYC, the Race Officers dropped an inflatable to use as the pin (and subsequent leeward mark). After a reasonably good start No 1 helmed by Mark Grzegorczyk, No 7 helmed by Sarah Marshall, No 9 helmed by D Orange tacked into the Bembridge shore; No 6 helmed by David Shaw initially stayed out on the starboard tack although subsequently followed the others inshore.
Start of Race 1 on Sunday
No 1 rounded E (Under Tyne) well out in front and quickly hoisted their blue spinnaker; No 7 and No 9 were next round with No 6 a bit further behind. However hosting their yellow spinnaker soon after rounding E, No 6 began to close the gap. As time was ticking, the course was changed to simply finish back on the inflatable. With the breeze picking up very slightly they all made good progress and finished in the same order. However there was no question that No 1 & 6 benefited from using their spinnakers.
Starting the second race off the inflatable again and with E still the windward mark, they all headed inshore to benefit from the ebbing tide. The start was a bit of a procession as they all chose to cross the line one behind the other at the Committee Boat end of the line. Having been the last across the start line after getting his timing a minute out, No 1, still helmed by Mark was first round E, with No 6 now helmed by Xander Shaw not too far behind; Sarah still helming No 7 was third to round and No 9, helmed now by Penny Stanley was fourth. And that was the order they finished. No 1 extending their lead thanks to their spinnaker and No 6 similarly holding off any challenges from No 7 and No 9, both of which only used ' white sails'.
Monday 21st April (by Laurence Blackburn)
With the breeze veering to the SW (F2-3) and a late tide, the ROs had little option other than to go all the way out to Janson (JJ) to set up the start for the four One-Designs wanting to race. All boats made an excellent getaway from the line however No 1, helmed single handed by Peter Summerhayes, got the perfect start and pulled out a big lead at the start of the first leg to Garland ahead of No 6 (David Shaw), No 9 (Mark Grz) and No 3 (Stefan Ludwig).
Race 1 Start
On the first leg to Garland the wind decided it was going to give the sailors and the Race Officers a massive headache by swinging left and right a good three or four times which turned the race course (carefully planned for spinnaker and non-spinnaker boats) completely on it's head. As the sunshine turned into a heavy rain shower it was decided to shorten the race after Under Tyne to finish at Janson. In the meantime, No 3 had managed to overtake the entire fleet to come home first; No 1 was second, with No 6 and No 9 third and fourth respectively.
By the time the race officers had repositioned Sea Breeze to accommodate the change of wind direction (WSW), the rain had stopped, the sunshine had returned and the wind had dropped to 2kts. With only three boats on the start line for the second race they all made a fantastic getaway towards Derrick as the wind then increased with No 9 in the lead as the wind changed again back to the SW which prompted the Race Officers to change the course to incorporate the wind change to try and give the sailors a decent beat.
Race 2 Start
The wind increased back up to a steady 11 knts which as it turned out to be the best conditions we had all afternoon. At Janson No 9 was still ahead as they made there way up to Garland and they maintained a steady lead all the way to the finish line at Pepe. No 6 was second and No 3 was third.
All in all a frustrating day on the water for the Race Officers but it turned out to be a good day for sailing in the end.
Congratulations to the helms various who helmed No 9 to win the Oppenheim Trophy.
Morning racing (10:00 starts both days) next weekend.