Nineteen Boats Take Part In Race For Bill Geddes Trophy

Sadly yet another Cadet Sailing On Saturday had to be postponed on 7 September due to force seven winds and large seas, but the youngsters race series will continue over the next few Saturdays in order to play catch-up.

 

Sunday’s weather, on the other hand, was ideal for the re-scheduling of the general Club race for the Bill Geddes Trophy and nineteen dinghies took part.  In a force three, touching four, south westerly wind and freshly flooding tide nearly all the competitors started on starboard tack and headed out to sea although, surprisingly, the majority tacked early and therefore had to subsequently put a further two tacks in before reaching the first buoy at St. Michael’s.  One or two of the wiser helms just continued out to sea and made the mark in a single tack, gaining considerable ground.  It was then a run back up the coast to the Eastcliff buoy before a broad reach out to the Seaward mark, followed by a gybe and a second reach into AWS.  A run then pursued up to the Kingscliff buoy before beating back to the line.  Charlie Spence and Tommy Martin were one of the first to capsize in their Hobie 405, on the first leg, and they dropped back considerably whilst righting the boat.  As the race went on Ross Aylen capsized three times but each time righted the craft and continued on his way.  The race also counted towards class points, in fact this was the final race in the series, and it was interesting to see the different fleets fighting it out throughout the event.  In the Lasers Andy Dunnett, Paul Stanton and Yvonne Gough seemed inseparable with Gough just dropping back on the second lap.  In the Hobie 405’s it was the Williams brothers that managed to pull ahead of their rivals, ensuring they used the asymmetric kite at every opportunity.  Steve and Daisy Swinbourne showed the other Topazes a clean pair of heels whist in the Toppers it was Ben Richardson who carved himself a first place.  The biggest tussle though was between the oldest class in the Club, the Sea Rangers.  It was neck and neck sailing all the way round the course between Richard Walker and Fred Webster but finally it was Walker that slipped in front.