Bembridge Sailing Club Late May Bank Holiday Keelboat Racing
by Robin Joy, Richard Jessel & Jos Coad 27 May 10:49 BST
24-26 May 2025
Sunday start of race 1 - Bembridge Late May Bank Holiday Keelboat Racing © Richard Jessel
Saturday 24 May - by Robin Joy
The late May Bank Holiday normally draws pretty good fleets out onto the water, however the windy forecast and commitments by the One-Designs, eight of whom are racing next week in Cowes Classics, resulted in only seven Redwings and no One-Designs racing on Saturday morning in a 20+ knt SW'erly under grey skies; quite a contrast to the sunny days of recent weekends.
A start line was laid at Janson (JJ), and a windward/leeward course between Footprint and Ruthven was set, twice round. The first race saw a tight start, with most of the fleet staying left on starboard, and just Mike Macinnes in Avocet heading off on port. Left, however, was the correct side to be, and Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet, Rosie Gosling in Gosling and Jockey Wilson in Quail were all in contention.
On the second beat Tom Scott in Ibis suffered gear failure and retired, and with the course slightly shortened to make time for a second race, Jockey came home first, 50 seconds ahead of Rosie, with Joe another minute adrift. They were followed by Rory Morrison in Paroquet, Matt Alexander in Harlequin, and Mike in Avocet.
The course was varied a bit for the second race, with Fitzwilliam (F) and Under Tyne (E) set as the last two marks to finish the fleet near their moorings. Joe and Rosie had the best of the start, but Jockey was hard on their heels, and led on the first run. By the end of the second beat, Rory had worked up into second, but Rosie and Matt were neck and neck for third. The final beat from F to E saw Matt get through Rory, but he had to settle for second behind Jockey. Rory finished third, followed by Rosie, Joe and Mike.
Many thanks to Charlie for staying out in a RIB to give safety cover in the blustery conditions.
Sunday 25 May - by Richard Jessel
Although Chimet was recording a F6 WNW'erly at times, sea conditions were such that the five Redwings that moored overnight at Under Tyne felt it was too good an opportunity to miss so the
Race Officers set them a course for their first race starting from Under Tyne (E) to Garland (G) and down to Tara (T) - twice round. After a slightly delayed start waiting for Ibis (Tom Scott) to arrive from
the harbour, in the event they started without him as he was taking too long! Ibis headed back back into the harbour before the second race.
Gosling (Rosie Gosling) led the way for the first race after taking the inshore route up to G. Paroquet (Rory Morrison), Quail (James Wilson) and Red Gauntlet (Joe Robertson) tussled for second, third
and fourth places. Avocet (Alastair Speare-Cole) was fifth. The course for the second race was the same as the first and interestingly it took the winners exactly the same time to complete - 41 minutes.
Despite having to take a penalty at the start, Red Gauntlet kept in contention with Quail throughout the race; Paroquet was third. Gosling took the right hand route on the second upwind leg however
this time it did not pay off and they came fourth; Avocet was again fifth.
There were no One-Designs.
Monday 26 May - by Jos Coad
There were five enthusiastic Redwing teams raring to go in a strong SW4 with long gusts of F5. Having sailed two short races on the two previous days they opted for one longer race of an hour or so. Starting at Fitzwilliam the course was Pepe, Moreton twice round to finish at Pepe.
In the event the course was shortened to Pepe, Moreton, a short run back to Garland and back to finish at Pepe which took exactly one hour for the winner. Rosie Gosling sailing Gosling was first round Pepe and Moreton closely followed by Jocky Wilson in Quail and Rory Morrison in Paroquet.
On the long beat up to Pepe, she had gear problems (which she resolved) but which resulted in Jocky and Rory overtaking her to take first and second place respectively. Fourth and fifth round Moreton were Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet and Tom Scott in Ibis who both sailed outside the fort trying to take advantage of the tide running towards Seaview.
In the event they didn't make up any ground on the first three, finishing in fourth and fifth place respectively. There were two One-Design helms but as they didn't have crew they decided not to sail.
With four firsts and a second over the three-day long weekend, Jocky Wilson in Quail was the clear winner of the prestigious Gunston Trophy.
Good fortune to the eight One-Designs who are heading to Cowes on Thursday to race in this year's Cowes Classics.