Autumn Cup 2025 at Fishers Green Sailing Club

Autumn Cup at Fishers Green © Christian Hill

Summer becoming a distant memory, local sailors returned home after a summer competing in various class championships, it was time to return to familiar surroundings to battle for the Autumn Cup club championships at FGSC.

A 24 strong fleet comprising of a resurgent Solo fleet of nine boats (possibly getting some practice in for the FGSC open Sunday 19th October - shameless plug), five Lasers, and with a handful of Merlins and Aeros, made for one of the most competitive start lines and three race series since before the summer.

Autumn Cup at Fishers Green - photo © Christian Hill

Race 1, A huge wind shift within the 5 minute start sequence, caused a general recall and the course was re-set.

Safely away at the 2nd time of asking apart from the new merlin team in the first outing in there new purchase 3575 "zippy" Mike/Oz who pulled the trigger to early. Leading the way, dusting off the solo, after a summer of yawl and merlin sailing, Paul Rayson solo 5181, closely followed by the aero's of Blake Newman 3600 Graham Newman 3746. As ever with such a large fleet clean air was a premium.

Paul 5181 held his nerve to take the win, Blake Aero 3600 split the solos to take 2nd, Steve Conroy Solo 5328 3rd, 1st double hander Merlin rocket 3715 Richard Cooke/Russell Hall.

Race 2 and a similar pattern occurring at the start on this occasion Laser Richard Bettles and Merlin 3715 Richard/Russell were over, trying to turn round in a tightly packed fleet, proving to be problematic and extremely time consuming.

Autumn Cup at Fishers Green - photo © Christian Hill

Changeable and fickle winds at the windward seemed to cause havoc with the status quo turning current form upside down. Step forward the ever growing laser radial fleet to take charge, Claudia Mancini 216625 and Simon Williams 179586, trading places, both getting their elbows out at the tight some may say extremely competitive leeward mark, to defend their position at the front of the fleet, 3774 Richard/Bill had a nice lead on the merlin's, but were pipped at the post by 3715 Richard/Russell.

Race 3, and all to play for. The wind had swung more easterly. The epic, fabulous, magnificent race management team consisting of Christian Hill, Alan Hayward, Colin Hill, Rescue crew and double busy mark layers Richard, Matt, George, Alan, Kiran, quickly tweaked the course for the final race show down.

Just so we were consistent all day, Godfrey solo 4801 pushed his luck and was over and had to go back.

With the fleet thinned out to a mere 16 boats, clear air was a lot easier to find for some. Merlin 3715 led on the water, but like F1 pit stops once the PY's kicked in the real race was between Paul solo 5181, Blake Aero 3600 Claudia laser radial. Paul kept his nose clean and Blake at arms length, to take the race win and the Autumn Cup.

A glorious day at the green, reflected in the huge club turn out, resulting in hard fought competitive racing.

Here's looking forward to the Autumn/Winter series for more of the same. Well done to all racers involved throughout the fleet.

Autumn Cup at Fishers Green - photo © Christian Hill

Overall Results:

Autumn Cup at Fishers Green - photo © Christian Hill