Opening weekend of 2026-2027 Illusion season at Bembridge Sailing Club

Illusion season begins at Bembridge © Robin Joy

The forecast NW 25kts was in reality a gusty W 15kts, giving excellent, but occasionally testing conditions for the first day of the new Illusion season. After last season's unfortunately early end, a dozen Illusionists went afloat for three in-harbour races.

The new-term enthusiasm led immediately to a general recall in race one, and Flag Uniform was displayed for the re-start. However, Jockey Wilson was still well over the line in the seconds before the start, and was given the season's first UFD disqualification.

The others were away cleanly, and it was soon Mark Downer leading the fleet up the first beat. Jockey was still sailing at this point, and was close behind, with these two opening up a 50m lead on the other boats. Jockey dropped out when the RO told him of his UFD, and nobody could catch Mark. As David Peerless pointed out, Mike Toogood accidentally missed out the spreader mark, and so retired. David took second place, ahead of Jo Downer and Colin Simonds.

Race two's start was much more orderly, and again Mark and Jockey led the way, building up an unassailable lead over the fleet. Jockey was pressuring Mark the whole way, but Mark held on to win again. Under the clouds a few gusts of 20kts came through to properly blow out any cobwebs, with David Russell-Jones and Oliver Morgan managing best to be third and fourth.

Conditions for race three became rather more shifty, with, unusually, the right hand side of the beats being favoured. Up front, Mark opted not to cover Jockey's long port tack on the second beat, and found himself a few places adrift by the windward mark. As so often, the rich got richer, and Jockey built his lead to over 100m, with nobody even looking like catching him. Mark did eventually work up to second, ahead of Jo and David R-J.

Conditions on Sunday were quite different to Saturday! Barely a whisper of wind from anywhere between SW to NW presented a few challenges for the ROs and the 17 strong fleet. Consequently, the first "race" became a two-way reach, after the wind veered over 60 degrees, and the ROs called a halt after one round. Mark Downer reached a the fastest, and won from Mike Toogood and Andy Christie.

As the 5kts of wind had veered (from 260º to 060º), and looked a little more settled, the windward mark was moved from just north of Bembridge Outboards up to about 100m inside the harbour entrance for race two. A rare port tack start by a guest in the red loaner boat was good to see, and it very nearly worked, but he couldn't quite clear the fleet, and had to tack. The wind was still very shifty, though, and there were many changes of order. Two rounds were enough, and Jockey Wilson came out on top to win, closely followed by Oliver Morgan. Some way back were then Mark Downer and Hugh Doherty.

Illusion season begins at Bembridge - photo © Robin Joy

Race three was also a two-rounder, in the hope of fitting in a fourth (or third proper) race, and Flag Uniform was flown, in the hope of improving the chances of a clean start. Wind shifts and holes again dominated, with the fleet quickly stretching out. Oliver was on form, and led the way home, from David Russell-Jones and Mark Downer (who had gybed way off course trying to find some wind). Andy Christie finished fourth.

The wind had veered again, and moving the windward mark another 200m would have taken up too much time, so another race was not started, and the fleet headed back to shore. A solid start to the new Illusion season, and it was good to welcome a couple of new faces. A big thank you to BSC for helping get us back on the water.

Overall Results:

Illusion season begins at Bembridge - photo © Robin Joy