Bembridge Sailing Club Early June 2026 Keelboat Racing
by Robin Ebsworth & Mike Samuelson 8 Jun 13:51 BST
5-7 June 2026
Bembridge SC Early June Keelboat Racing © Mike Samuelson
Friday 5 June
Unusually, a One-Design race was programme for Friday afternoon. The background was that the three day Oppenheim Trophy, normally raced for over Easter had been re-scheduled as the One-Designs had not been afloat until the early May Bank holiday. Disappointingly only two boats (No 3 helmed by Stephan Ludwig and No 10 helmed single handed by Richard Coleman) rigged up and sailed from their Under Tyne moorings to Garland where the start line had been set up.
Conditions were almost perfect with bright sunshine and a fairly steady F4 South Westerly breeze.
Although well positioned close to the Committee Boat, Stephan failed to get No 3 going immediately after the start which put Richard, who crossed the line at the pin end, ahead as they tacked for Pepe.
Richard rounded in the lead by a few boat lengths but soon after rounding, No 3 had a problem with her jib and rounded up while it was sorted. This put No 10 so far ahead that for all intents and purposes, the race was over. However at the Race Officers suggestion Richard slowed down and waited for Stephan to catch up. This worked really well and ensured a very close race, firstly to Janson, then back to Garland, Fitzwilliam (to starboard) and the finish at Under Tyne.
No 10 lead until the final beat to the line, crossing just under a second behind No 3. However as it was a Trophy race, Richard was awarded one minute of redress for allowing Stephan to catch up earlier in the race, which of course meant that No 10 came out the winner. What a pity that there were not more takers, especially as the second day of the Oppenheim Trophy looked as if it was going to be blown out.
Saturday 6 June
Which indeed it was!
Chimet was recording SW 33 knots (F8) over lunchtime so the decision to display N over A and cancel all racing was very easy to make!
Sunday 7 June
Its doubtful whether there would have been any racing on Sunday had it been morning racing, however by mid-afternoon conditions were looking more favourable for the four Redwings and three One-Designs who were keen to get out on the water. Sea Breeze set up a line at Fitzwilliam with the first windward mark as Under Tyne. Although it was pretty rock and rolly on the Committee boat, the four Redwings made a good start
Tara, helmed by Bruce Huber, was first to round Under Tyne with Blue Jay, helmed by Colin Samuelson, Paroquet helmed by Rory Morrison and Gosling helmed by Serena Gosling not far behind. In the event it did not take them long to run to Janson, beat to Garland and run back to the finish at Under Tyne. Although they finished in the same order, it was by no means a procession and there was only about 10 seconds separating all four boats.
With the breeze backing to the SSW, an inflatable windward mark was laid inshore. Two boats started on starboard and two on port, one of whom, Blue Jay over cooked it and the X-Flag was displayed. Assuming that it was one of the other boats, Colin only turned back after the Race Officers eventually radiod to tell him the bad news!
Tara yet again lead initially with Gosling and Paroquet vying for second place as they ran to Moreton. Blue Jay made up a little but still had lots to make up before they could pressurise the other three. Disappointingly the planned beat from Moreton to Under Tyne ended up as a close reach as the breeze continued to back to the south. The course was therefore changed to Janson back to the line at Under Tyne.
On the run to Janson, Paroquet and Gosling overtook Tara and by the time they reached the line the former crossed 10 seconds ahead. Blue Jay meanwhile had caught up well and was only 20 seconds behind Tara.
The three One-Designs made a good start to their first race and had a challenging beat to Under Tyne in a confused sea.
No 8, helmed by Xander Shaw was first round, followed a few boat lengths later by Richard Coleman in No 10 with Stephan Ludwig in No 3 not far behind. Following a similar course to the Redwings except that their penultimate mark was Footprint rather than Garland, it became a bit if a procession albeit No 10 was always close enough to No 8 to take advantage of any mistakes.
In the event, Xander did not put a foot wrong and finished 30 seconds ahead.
Xander dropped out of the second race before the start and returned back to the moorings. The remaining two boats had a clean start, with No 10 at the pin end and No 3 mid-line.
Richard dominated proceedings and looked as though he would win by a country mile, however they had a brainstorm by initially rounding Under Tyne the wrong way. By the time they had 'undone' themselves No 3 had moved into a boat length lead. But having followed the Redwings to Janson, No 10 rounded back in the lead and finished at Under Tyne 20 seconds ahead,
With two firsts and a second, No 10 therefore won the Oppenheim Trophy.
Mid-morning starts for next weekend with the Redwings racing for the Evert de Kort Cup.