St George's Day Trophy for the Illusion class at Bembridge Sailing Club
by Rudy Jurg 24 Apr 2012 08:53 BST
The Illusion Class had its last outing this season for a one day regatta sailing for the St Georges Trophy which consists of 4 races, all races too count. The trophy was donated in 2006 by the late Vernon Stratton.
In a light West North Westerly Wind the race officer laid a course of Silver Beach just outside Bembridge Harbour in sparking spring conditions. Unusually sun cream instead of balaclavas and thermal gloves needed!
14 boats made it to the start line but in the light and variable conditions the usual top guns struggled to perform and it was John Raymond who found more breeze and speed than the rest of the fleet and sailed away to take the winners gun, Rupert Holmes found speed downwind and came in second followed by Mark Downer in third.
In second race of the day the wind went very light but Illusions still seem to go forward in almost non visible breeze which also shifted 90 degrees. It was Rupert Holmes who read the conditions best and took the gun, followed by John Raymond and Jo Downer.
In race three the breeze stabilised and having got a taste of winning Rupert Holmes was again out in front together with Jo Downer, both of them enjoying some of the best results they have had this season. It was close on points between John Raymond and Rupert Holmes but as the wind increased to a nice Force 3-4 the top guns Mark Downer, Bruce Huber and Rudy Jurg showed they like a bit of pressure in their sails and water coming over the deck and would finish in that order after having traded places a few times.
However after adding up all the points Rupert Holmes took home his second regatta winners trophy home, Mark Downer in second and Rudy Jurg in third.
On Sunday a reduced fleet of just seven boats sailed three races for the Philip Woodford long distance trophy. James Meaning won the day's racing with four points, Rupert Holmes was second with five points and Nick Foden-Pattisson third.
This marked the end of a spectacular season with record entries. Watch out for the 2012/2013 season starting in October when the class will celebrate its 30th anniversary!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Rupert Holmes | 47 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 2 | Mark Downer | 124 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| 3 | Rudy Jurg | 26 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 17 |
| 4 | John Raymond | 151 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 18 |
| 5 | Jo Downer | 123 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 22 |
| 6 | Bruce Huber | 101 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 23 |
| 7 | Philip Bown | 130 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 28 |
| 8 | Andrew Christie | 149 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| 9 | James Axtell | 106 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 32 |
| 10 | Robin Ebsworth | 12 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 40 |
| 11 | Philip Woodford | 158 | 8 | 9 | 9 | R | 41 |
| 12 | Mike Toogood | 73 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 47 |
| 13 | Kass Schmidt | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 51 |
| 14 | Barnaby Edwards | 121 | 11 | S | S | S | 56 |