MDL Junior Trophy at Hamble River Sailing Club
by Jonty Sherwill 11 Oct 2012 13:07 BST
6 October 2012
MDL Marinas have been generous supporters of junior sailing at Hamble River Sailing Club in recent years and on Saturday 6th October the club's cadet sailors contested the MDL Junior Trophy, to coincide with the first day of the Hamble Big Boat Series also sponsored by MDL Marinas.
Before the three races for the MDL Junior Trophy the annual Uncle Bob's and Cousin Bob's trophy races were also held, these to determine the overall HRSC cadet champions for the year. The finals for this event had been postponed from 1st September due to lights winds, and now the nine hopefuls were lining up in identical HRSC owned Picos near the Cat Head buoy out in Southampton Water.
The Race Officer Chris Hamel and his team set up a four-lap course comprising triangles and sausages with a final beat to the finish, and with a single race to decide both club trophies. Callum Weston made a clean getaway near the middle of a slightly port biased line and lead round the first weather mark. Lying in second place at this stage was Elliot Exton who was making the most of his lighter weight while some of the more experienced were struggling for boat speed in the light breeze conditions.
Elliot closed the gap after two laps as the wind became even lighter but as it picked up again Callum powered away to a convincing win with Tom Johnson snatching second place ahead of Becca Fogden. Last year's winner Robert Winn finished 4th while Elliot slipped to 5th at the finish ahead of Ben Boyle. Leading helm and winner of the Cousin Bob's Trophy was Alex Austin finishing just ahead of Sienna Adderley and Ewan Thomas.
For the MDL Junior Trophy, the main event of the day, there were separate starts for the Picos and Optimists. With three races set over a shorter version of the same course with a single triangle, beat and run to the finish. With all races to count for the overall points good starts would be important.
Callum Weston maintained his winning form in the first race with Tom Johnson finishing in second place and the younger Alex Austin sailing very well to take third. In race 2 it was Becca Fodgen who made the best start at the port end of the line but once again Callum made his way through after an average start to take the win ahead of Ben Boyle and Tom Johnson.
Tom Johnson found his more usual form in Race 3 with a good start and he sailed a tidy race to take the win with Ben Boyle in another impressive second place and Robert Winn third. Fourth was Becca in a photo-finish with Callum who scored a disappointing 5th after his earlier wins.
Counting 2,3,1 the MDL Junior Trophy was won by Tom Johnson on six points ahead of Callum Weston with seven, and Ben Boyle in a creditable 3rd place overall. Meanwhile, Jack Clark won much praise for saving his rudder after it became detached when he capsized, and the performance of the younger Pico helms was also notable in this competitive event.
The Optimists also had good racing and the winner was Robert MacFarlane counting three first places, with Cameron Yates 2nd and William Harrison 3rd overall.
Overall Results:
Uncle Bob's Trophy
1st Callum Weston
2nd Tom Johnson
3rd Becca Fogden
4th Robert Winn
5th Elliot Exton
6th Ben Boyle
Cousin Bob's Trophy
1st Alex Austin
2nd Sienna Adderley
3rd Ewan Thomas
MDL Junior Trophy - Picos
1st Tom Johnson 6pts
2nd Callum Weston 7pts
3rd Ben Boyle 11pts
4th= Alex Austin 15pts
4th= Becca Fogden 15pts
6th Elliot Exton 18pts
7th Sienna Adderley 19pts
8th Robert Winn 22pts
9th Ewan Thomas 24pts
10th Jack Clark 28pts
MDL Junior Trophy - Optimists
1st Robert MacFarlane 3pts
2nd Cameron Yates 7pts
3rd= William Harrison 11pts
3rd= Eleanor Yonge 11pts
5th Alex Hamel 15pts
6th Indigo Whitaker Veryard 16pts