Bembridge Sailing Club Mid August 2026 Keelboat Racing
by Mike Samuelson et al 20 Aug 16:19 BST
7-19 August 2026
Bembridge SC Keelboat Racing on 9th August 2026 © Mike Samuelson
Friday 7 August by Alexander Ross
Four One-Designs went out on a beautiful sunny afternoon with a brisk warm wind just west of south. The course was Tara, Derrick, thru the line, Under Tyne, Britten and finish at Under Tyne with all marks to starboard except for the finish. With a start at Janson, Susie Beart was first off in No 5 followed closely by Richard Hall in No 2 John Suffield was next and Simon Allocca in No 1 was closed out of the committee boat and had to go round to start. Up to Tara, then a run down to Derrick. Although last around Derrick, Simon was first through the line, and first round the next windward mark Under Tyne correctly to starboard, but he then saw John round it mistakenly to port and went back to cure what he assumed was his mistake, before realising he was right after all and carrying on. John corrected his mistake, and after they rounded Britten and beat back the finish order was No 5, No 1, No 4, No 2, with a very close finish (almost too close to call) between Simon and Richard.
Redwings at Cowes - 1st Enigma (Mark Downer) 2nd Harlequin (Matt Alexander) 3rd Quail (James Wilson)
Saturday 8 August by Mike Samuelson
After almost windless conditions for Cowes Fireworks the evening before, the morning breeze had veered to the East which made it pretty lumpy but at 10 knots it was strong enough for the six One-Designs to punch through it. After a brief discussion it was agreed that there would be one, rather than two races which gave the Race Officer Mike Samuelson more latitude with the course. Starting at Under Tyne, the first beat was to Tara, then a longish run to Footprint, a long beat to Moreton, a run to Garland and a final beat to Under Tyne.
Except for No 5 (Charles Perry) who was well over the line at the start and took a minute or so to return, the other five boats were all nicely lined up close to the line when the hooter sounded. Charles Abel Smith in No 7 was first to reach Tara with Tad Ross in No 2 tucked in behind; there was then a gap to Richard Hall in No 2 and Russ Fowler in No 1. Charles (No 8) had made up a little but still had some way to catch up the leaders. At Footprint Sarah & Tad rounded very close together as did Russ and Richard H, with Charles and Richard C bringing up the rear. The long beat to Moreton saw split tacks and Tad reaching the buoy with a considerable lead over Sarah and Charles who had caught up handsomely. It was looking a done deal as they ran to Garland but Tad went a long way left which allowed Sarah and Charles to edge a bit closer. No 1 flew their spinnaker which certainly helped Tad them in contention. Finishing at Under Tyne after a final quality beat from Garland, Tad (No 2) finished just under 2 minutes ahead of Charles P (No 8) who had overtaken Russ (No 1) and Charles A S (No 7) by taking the offshore route. Third was actually third equal as the Race Officer was unable to separate (after an hour ad a quarter race) No 1 and No 7.
Sunday 9 August by Robin Joy
A light and variable breeze meant that the starts were delayed by 40 minutes, whilst the line was changed 3 times as the direction veered from NNE to SSE, where it settled at a sailable 10 kts.
As it was the morning after the BSC summer ball the younger generation were mostly helming in the 8-boat Redwing fleet in today's "crews race", crewed by rather subdued parents! The single-round course from a laid line off Under Tyne was on the wind up to Tara, followed by a run to Britten, and another beat to the finish. The fleet was closely bunched at the first mark, with Gosling, Quail and Skua (on her first sail of the year) in contention. After an uneventful run, the longer second beat saw those opting for the offshore route faring rather better, and it was Skua who led home, helmed by Poppy Morrison and crewed by dad Digby. Quail was second, Gosling third, and Toucan recovered from a very cautious start to finish fourth.
In a freshening breeze the second race was over much the same course, with the finish moved to Under Tyne. A number of boats were OCS at the start, with only the Wilson family on Quail failing to return. This cost them, unfortunately, as they sailed a great race to win on the water, but the winning gun went to Blue Jay and the Jessel family. Toucan was second, with Skua's third enough for Poppy to win the day.
Six One-Designs were out, and raced over the same courses as the Redwings. The start of race one produced some bunching at the Committee Boat, with a couple of firm views being expressed. However, they in fact all got away cleanly upwind towards Tara. As with the Redwings, the boats choosing the left of both beats profited, and Richard Hall, solo in No 4, led Tad Ross in No 2 home to win, with Sarah Marshall in No 7 third.
In race two Richard Coleman, solo in No 10, overcooked the start, so had to come back, and took a while to get back on terms with the fleet. Nobody went with their spinnaker on the run, so the choice of side on the second beat again proved decisive, with Charles Abel Smith now helming No 7 benefitting the most. He came in to the finish from offshore to pip Mark Hodgkinson helming No 2 by just 4 seconds. Richard Hall was third.
Monday 10 August by Mike Samuelson
With yet more sunshine and a gentle NW'erly beeze, seven Redwings and seven One-Designs made it to the start area on Monday morning just to the north of Under Tyne with time to spare. Rather than delay to the scheduled start time (10:30 & 10:35), all were happy to start the first race five minutes ahead early. The Redwing course was Derrick, Footprint, Under Tyne and finishing on the laid start/finish line. After a good start by most - Toucan (Colin Samuelson) was last to cross having been shut out at the Committee Boat end of the line, al remained on Starboard and headed towards the St Helens shore.
Quail (Jockey Wilson) motored away from the rest of the fleet and rounded Derrick a long way ahead of Toucan. Although the run to Footprint saw little change in the order of the rest of fleet, they still enjoyed some close racing made all the more interesting as they were joined by the One-Design fleet who had had Britten as their windward mark. Quail finished two minutes ahead of Toucan, with Plover (Andrew Eddy) third a similar distance behind.
The course for the second race was changed so as to provide slightly different options and anyway it had to be modified half way through when the breeze backed to the west. Starting off the same line, the windward mark was Britten (to starboard), Footprint, Tara, Footprint, finishing at Under Tyne. An interesting start with Toucan pushed over the line by Quail.
All went in to St Helens shore again with Quail and Capercaille (Roger Luxmoore-Styles) rounding ahead of the rest. Once round Tara, Toucan who had moved up into third, then took a punt and hheaded offshore. A tactic that took advantage of the tide and put them into the lead for the final run back to the line. Quail was second a minute later and Capercaille was third three minutes later.
Except for No 10 (Richard Coleman) and No 1 (Russ Fowler) who got caught at Tara by strengthen ing tide at the end of the second race as they headed back to the finish, there was just enough of a breeze to power the One-Designs through NW'erly swell. The stat of the first race wasn't half bad with all the boats the initially heading off to Britten on the starboard tack before splitting tacks. No 7 (Charles Abel Smith) was first round with No 6 (Mark Hodgkinson) and No 8 (Charles Perry) not that far behind. All enjoyed the gentle reach from Footprint to Under Tyne; the lead boats (No 7, No 6 and No 8) made the line from Under Tyne in one tack; a few of the following boats had to put a tack in. Charles and Mark finished within one second of each other.
After another reasonable start, the One-Designs headed to Moreton - most following the same line as the Redwings.
With the breeze starting to drop, their course was changed after Tara to an inflatable windward mark that had been laid to the North West of Under Tyne so that both fleets would finish in the same direction. Having gained a healthy lead over No 7 (helmed by James Petit) early on, and despite James moving into the lead during the run to Tara, Mark regained the lead on the final beat to finish 2 minutes head of No 7. No 8 (Charles Perry) was third.
Tuesday 11 August
Racing cancelled due to a F5 Easterly.
Wednesday 12 August by James Petit & Mike Samuelson
Three Redwings and nine Bembridge One Designs congregated at Under Tyne for the start of the Zanen Trophy, a combined race for the two classes. With high water still an hour and a half away and a Force 3 easterly, gusting Force 4, there was a lively swell as the fleet set off at 10.35 on the beat to the Bembridge Ledge Cardinal Mark. The three Redwings Tarpon, Quail and Toucan were very closely bunch as the crossed the line with One Designs 8 and 9 in close attendance.
The Redwings, faring rather better in the swell, stayed on starboard, while the majority of the One Designs tacked inshore in search of some shelter from the swell. After 20 minutes of close and competitive sailing, the Redwings had forged a sizeable lead over the One Design fleet. Quail (James Wilson) rounded Bembridge Ledge first, followed closely by Toucan (Colin Samuelson), with Tarpon (Dominic Samuelson) now a little adrift.
Having started in mid-fleet, BOD 6, helmed by Morgan McLucas, having decided against the inshore option rounded with a lead of more than a minute over 5 (Susie Beart) and 2 (Marcus Hind). On the run to Garland, Quail continued to hold a slender lead over Toucan, while the leading One Designs also held station. Behind them, however, the racing remained much more closely contested. Russ Fowler and Simon Allocca, flying their spinnaker in No 1, made up some 150 metres, with the order at this stage No 10 (Penny Stanley), No 8 (Charles Perry), No 1 (Russ Fowler), No 3 (Mark Hodgkinson), No 4 (John Suffield) and No 9 (Richard Hall).
By now the race had begun to settle down, and the fleet rounded both Under Tyne and Pepe in much the same order before heading back to the finish at Under Tyne. Quail took line and overall honours, followed by the other two Redwings, Toucan and Tarpon. No 6 was the first Bembridge One Design across the line, followed by No 2 and No 5, with No 5 just pipping No 10 on the final beat. They were followed home by No 8, No 3, No 1, No 4 and No 9.
After the handicaps had been applied, BOD 6 was rewarded with third place overall.
Thursday 13 August by Alexander Ross & Mike Samuelson
Seven Redwings ventured out for the Princessa Trophy, Colin Samuelson in Toucan, Roger Luxmoore-Styles in Capercaillie, Jockey Wilson in Quail, Billy Clegg in Lady Laetitia, Mike (Jaffa) Orange in Goose, Andrew Eddy in Plover and Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence.
It was a fine hot day with a gentle easterly swell and a perfect south-easterly breeze. The fleet took off from E on a beat against the tide (mainly on port) up to the Bembridge Ledge cardinal (starboard rounding). Colin was first off the start and held his lead until the end.
After the Ledge cardinal it was a port reach to Princessa, and the fleet was reasonably evenly spaced out. Colin was first round Princessa, and on the way back (past Cochrane) Jockey closed on Colin and the two of them left the rest of the fleet far behind. The two lead boats opted for a close shore run back to the leeward mark Garland with Jockey chasing Colin's tail barely a couple of lengths behind him at times, while others went further out, losing significant minutes as a result. As Colin and Jockey closed on G there was a fine luffing match but Colin survived the challenge and rounded first, holding his lead to the end at under Tyne and finishing 14 seconds before Jockey. The final Redwing to finish came in over ten minutes later. Finish order Toucan, Quail, Lady Laetitia, Plover, Goose, Capercaillie and Quintessence (the last two given early finishes in the order they were).
Meanwhile, four One-Designs were out: Stephan in No 3, Mark H in No 6, James Petit in No 7 (with a rare and welcome appearance by Sir Ian Cheshire as crew) and Mark G in No 9 with his son Theo. The course was notable for its two rare visits (for One-Designs); Cochrane as the windward mark, and Old Church as the leeward one. No 9 went for a port flyer and was first over the line followed by No 6, No 3 and then No 7. The beat up to Cochrane and the run back to Old Church proved an extended experience and stretched the fleet out widely. No 9 finished first a minute ahead of No 6, followed by No 7 nine minutes later and No 3 after another 6 minutes.
A fun time was had by all!
Friday 14 August (Day 1 of the BSC Regatta)
Ten Redwings, ten Seaview Mermaids, seven One-Designs and three Squibs had a frustrating days racing with the light breeze starting as a NorthWesterly and finishing as a South Easterly.
Redwing - 1st Quail (Jockey Wilson); 2nd Enigma (Mark Downer); 3rd Goose (Jaffa Orange)
Seaview Mermaid - 1st No 9 (Noel Dobbs); 2nd No 1 (Jimbo Mitchell); 3rd No 4(Guy Mattinson)
One-Designs - 1st No 6 (Mark Hodgkinson); 2nd No 4 (John Suffield); 3rd No 9 (Richard Hall)
Squibs - 1st No 835 (Charlie White); 2nd No 632 (Ian Morgan); 3rd No 687 (Phil Russell).
Saturday 15 August (Day 2 of the BSC Regatta) by Mike Samuelson
Morning starts, low water, light North Weaterly Easterly breeze and twelve J70 crews to also get to Under Tyne for the first day of their Regatta made it unlikely that the programmed start of '0:40 for the Redwings was achievable; however, thanks to a number of members RIBs and the launches in over drive, everyone made it to the start line off Fitzwilliam in time for their start. The twelve J70s were first to start at 10:30 and although set twice round a triangular course with Derrick as the windward mark, Under Tyne as the wing mark and Cochrane as the leeward mark, they were stopped after one so that they could be re-started with the other fleets clear of the line. A separate report has been posted on the J70 Regatta so is not covered further in this report.
Except that they did complete two rounds, the ten Redwings and seven Seaview Mermaids raced on the same course. The five One-Designs and three Squibs similarly except their windward mark was Britten. All suffered the same when half way through the race the light breeze became even lighter. However all credit to all crews as there was only one retirement (No 3 One-Design helmed by Stephan Ludwig).
Of particular note was No 8 One-Design helmed by Lavinia Perry who finished 10 minutes ahead of Susie Beart in No 5 who was second!
Redwing - 1st Enigma (Mark Downer); 2nd Quail (Jockey Wilson); 3rd Toucan (Colin Samuelson)
Seaview Mermaid - 1st No 5 (Jimbo Mitchell); 2nd No 2 (Noel Dobbs); 3rd No 9(Guy Mattinson)
One-Designs - 1st No 8 (Lavinia Perry); 2nd No 5 (Susie Beart); 3rd No 4 (Richard Hall)
Squibs - 1st No 835(Charlie White); 2nd No 687 (Phil Russell); 3rd No 632 (Ian Morgan).
Sunday 16 August (Day 1 of the SVYC Regatta)
The prospect of racing in the very light airs at Seaview meant that only three Redwings, Enigma - (Mark Downer), Ibis (Ton Scott) and Vera (Ben Stoddart-Stones) and two One-Designs, No 6 (Mark Hodgkinson) and No 4 (Richard Hall) started. As always at Seaview, knowing where the buoys are is key to success. It was therefore no surprise, given the Downer's knowledge of the marks, that Enigma was in a commanding lead for the whole race, Ibis was second and Vera was third. With No 8 retiring, Mark Hodgkinson in No 6 One-Design was first.
Monday 17 August (Day 2 of the SVYC Regatta) by Mike Samuelson
Monday morning saw a bit more of a breeze and five Redwings (Enigma - Mark Downer, Snowgoose - Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore, Vera - Ben Stoddart-Stones, Capercaille - Mary Luxmoore-Styles) and Ibis - Tom Scott (single handed); and four One-Designs (No 6 Mark Hodgkinson, No 3 - Stephan Ludwig, No 2 - Roy Burrows and No 4 - Richard Hall) made it to Seaview. For the Redwings it was a reaching start followed by a run to Warner, then an excellent beat to No 15, a run to Somers, back to No 15 followed by a final loop to No 8, No 3 and line. Enigma lead throughout and finished well ahead of Snowgoose; Vera was third some way back with Capercaille and Ibis, who had been close for the whole race bring up the rear.
On a slightly reduced course (Somers in lieu of Warner) Stephan Ludwig, who sails at Seaview occasionally, looked like being the winner of the One-Design race by some considerable distance, however towards the end of the race he went for the wrong buoy and Mark Hodgkinson took over the lead and finished first. Stephan was second and Roy Burrows in No 2 was third.
Tuesday 18 August by Richard Jessel
Although only two Redwings there were six One-Designs enjoying the stronger SWesterly breeze on Tuesday afternoon. The course for the two Redwings (Vera helmed by Ben Stoddart-Stones and Capercaille helmed by Mary Luxmoore-Styles) was Pepe, Fitzwilliam (twice), Garland, Fitzwilliam and finishing at E. After a very late start, Capercaille caught Vera up and by the end of the race was 2 minutes ahead.
The six One-Designs had the same course. The top four finishers were No 6 (Ashley McLucas), No 5 (Susie Beart), No 8 (Alexander Ross) and No 2 (Martin Bonham).
Wednesday 19 August by Mike Samuelson
Although the mid-afternoon forecast was for a F4 SWesterly, when crews met at the Club to be taken to their boats at Under Tyne, there was hardly a breath of wind. Indeed the recommendation from Sea Breeze was to wait on the moorings in the hopes that the breeze would pick up for the two Redwings - Capercaille helmed by Mary Luxmoore-Styles and Vera helmed by Ben Stoddart-Stones; and the three One-Designs - No 2 Martin Bonham; No 5 Susie Beart; and No 12 Mark Hodgkinson. By 15:05 the promised breeze began to materialise and the course set from Fitzwilliam to Garland, to Ruthven, back to Garland, then to Tara and finishing at Under Tyne.
Both Redwings crossed the line on Port and then had a close race until Capercaille decided half way down the first run that the wind and sea state out at Ruthven was not for them so they headed back to the moorings leaving Vera to complete the course and collect a first place. With the breeze increasing two out of three One-Designs started on port well ahead on No 2 who started on starboard. No 5 rounded Garland safely ahead of No 2 with No 10 a bit behind. As they ran out to Ruthven, they found the sea conditions had quite surprisingly gone from a flat calm to moderate/rough in the space of half an hour. However, all three ended up having an exhilarating sail. No 5 finished first two and a half minutes ahead of No 2.