Please select your home edition
Edition
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay

Bembridge Illusion Trafalgar Trophy 2024

by Mike Samuelson 21 Oct 06:26 PDT 19-20 October 2024

With a number of regular Illusionists out in Barcelona supporting INEOS Britannia, the Great South run potentially making travel to/from the mainland difficult and a distinctly unpleasant forecast for Sunday, numbers on Saturday only just made double figures.

However those who were able to make it enjoyed four races in warm bright sunshine and a gentle F3 WSW breeze. With the likelihood of even lower numbers on Sunday, and Storm Ashley showing no signs of missing Bembridge, the decision to cancel the second days racing was an easy one.

The first race started 15 minutes late - a few boats had been doing their buoyancy checks before rather than after racing. Oliver Morgan was OCS but corrected so quickly that the X Flag did not get displayed.

Start of Race 1

David Russell-Jones lead the way round the windward mark but Raymond Simonds moved into the lead by the leeward gate. Over the next two rounds he extended the gap between the chasing boats and finished well ahead of David with Oliver third.

After a close start, the second race saw Simon Birchenough rounding the spreader first just ahead of Raymond and Bill Daniels. As the race unfolded David moved into the lead just ahead of Raymond. On the final run there was quite a bit of luffing and Raymond ended up taking a penalty. Meanwhile Bill took advantage of the two leading boats heading away from the gate and snook into lead finishing ahead of David and Raymond. Simon was fourth.

Start of Race 2

With the breeze flicking 20 + degrees at times and varying in strength, the majority of the fleet started the third race at the Committee boat end of the line. Bill nearly overcooked it but was just given the benefit of doubt as the ROs struggled to sight the line that was straight into the sun.

Start of Race 3

Owen Pay was first round the windward mark and despite pressure from Bill and David, he held his concentration and finished well ahead.

With Storm Ashley forecast to bring heavy rain and gale force winds on Sunday a fourth race was run so that the discard could kick in. Although Sam Christie was marginally OCS, to save a bit of time, he was not called back. Bill was first to the windward mark and although David and Raymond kept the pressure up he took his second win of the day.

Start of Race 4

All in all, four nice races in a nearly empty (of moored boats) harbour that saw Bill finish first with 4 points; David was second with 6 points and Raymond was third with 7 points. No racing next weekend, but its the Guy Fawkes Trophy the weekend after (2 & 3 November).

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail NoR1R2R3R4Pts
1Bill Daniels6841214
2David Russell‑Jones15522326
3Raymond Simonds16513637
4Owen Pay160R51713
5Oliver Morgan169375513
6Matt Solan106654413
7Mike Issaias152767619
8Simon Birchenough13684101122
9Sam Christie 149599923
10Will Lowe150910101029

Related Articles

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2024
Great to see 24 boats racing in the harbour It was great to see 24 Illusions racing on Saturday for the Guy Fawkes Trophy; they made quite a sight as they jinked their way through the last few moored boats in the harbour. Posted on 4 Nov
Illusion class opening weekend at Bembridge
A variable wind proved testing for both the helms and the mark layers What a perfect start on Saturday afternoon to the 2024-2025 Illusion season with 15 boats enjoying the lovely sunny conditions. That said, a somewhat variable 12-15 knots from the SE (mainly!) proved testing for both the helms and the mark layers. Posted on 7 Oct
Illusion 8 Hour Race at Middle Nene
A spectator event with a social get-together on the shore Following a concept introduced in 2022, the 8-Hour Race at Middle Nene SC is held in Illusion mini-keelboats, designed as a spectator event with a social get-together on the shore. Posted on 23 Jul
Bembridge Illusion season comes to a close
With the St George's Day Trophy and the Woodford Long Distance Race Not the kindest weather for the final weekend of the Illusion season, however it could have been worse and at least the drizzle on Saturday held off until the finish of the last of the four races for the St George's Day Trophy. Posted on 29 Apr
Bembridge Illusion Designer Trophy 2024
Racing for the drawing of Jo Richards' original concept drawing of the Illusion At the end of the 40th Anniversary dinner in December 2022, Jo Richards, the designer of the Illusion generously presented the Class with a drawing of his original concept for an enlarged single handed model yacht which was foot steered. Posted on 22 Apr
Bembridge Illusion Flying Dutchman Trophy
A challenging weekend thanks to Storm Kathleen Storm Kathleen, early starts and being the weekend after Easter all contributed to lower than normal numbers racing for the Flying Dutchman trophy. Posted on 7 Apr
Bembridge Illusion Vernon's Easter Egg Cup 2024
Battling gale warnings, icy rain and cancelled ferries Gale warnings, icy rain and cancelled ferries on Maundy Thursday was enough to put off some of the hardy Illusion fleet helms from sailing the first day of Vernon's Easter Egg Cup on Good Friday. Posted on 31 Mar
Bembridge Illusion Spring Plate 2024
Fourteen boats rigged up to race on Saturday Fourteen boats rigged up to race on Saturday, however sadly Tim Lyle had a problem with his steering and never left the pontoon but the other thirteen eventually got their acts together and made it to Sea Breeze located to the north of the Redwing Quay. Posted on 25 Mar
Illusion Prince Philip Memorial Trophy 2024
Forecast and early tides kept a number of competitors away First raced for in April 2021 in memory of the late HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, this year's running of the Prince Philip Memorial Trophy disappointingly only saw seven entries competing for the Trophy. Posted on 11 Mar
Bembridge Illusion Bill's Barrel 2024
Almost perfect conditions after a week of rain and strong winds After another three days of rain and strong winds, it was a relief that Saturday afternoon's SW'erly F3 breeze with sunny patches proved to be almost perfect for the fifteen Illusionists who launched ready for this year's 'Bill's Barrel' weekend. Posted on 4 Mar
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service StayMaritimo 2023 S600 FOOTER