2014 Fred's Big Toephy at Guildford Model Yacht Club
by Roger Stollery 5 Feb 2014 07:14 GMT
2 February 2014
Guildford Model Yacht Club's sailing water at Abbey Meads was looking magnificent for this event because the water level caused by the recent floods was close to the top of the bank and boats were able to launch from the third step down from the top, without the need for a launching platform.
11 entries from 3 MYA districts were treated to a really good day's sailing in marvellous weather conditions; such a change from the rain and gloom of the past few weeks. Race officers Martin Crysell and Hugh McAdoo made a really good job of running the event and managed to fit in 16 races over a simple 50 metre windward/leeward course with a windward spreader and leeward gate. The south-westerly wind occasionally became southerly and gave a relatively steady wind of 8 or 9 miles an hour, but for most of the day it was variable in direction, with holes and strong gusts causing broaching on the off wind legs.
Peter Shepherd sailing a SLIM design in a 'Justin rig' (the biggest on UK Footys) snatched Race 1 from Rob Vice sailing his ICE with the slightly smaller 550 mm rig, in the last centimetres to the finishing line with Peter Dunne in 3rd place. Rob then had a good race with another ICE sailed by Roger Stollery with Peter Jackson sailing another big rigged SLIM in 3rd place. Roger then turned the tables on Rob in Race 3 with Peter Jackson again in 3rd place. However from then on Races 4-7 Rob was invincible with Roger and Peter Shepherd chasing, but not able to catch his runaway ICE. By lunchtime Rob was on top of the leaderboard with 9 points, with Roger on 22 and Peter Jackson on 28.
During the very pleasant warm and sunny lunch break, those involved in running the Footy Gold Cup on 26-27 July at Two Islands RYC, Milton Keynes had an informal meeting to confirm actions taken since the inaugural meeting. This is an international event, where the best European Footy sailors are expected and where Sail Footy UK is encouraging a big UK entry to counter this challenge.
Hugh McAdoo reset the course to match the change in the wind, which was slightly more westerly and extended the length so that the afternoon races could be just a single lap. The wind had become a little lighter and Roger took advantage of this by changing to his 'Justin rig' and won Races 8 and 9 easily from Rob, with the 2 Peters picking up the third places. Not to be outdone Rob came back with a win in Race 10 with Peter Jackson and Roger in 2nd and 3rd places. Roger maintained his challenge by winning Races 11 and 12, but then let Peter Jackson win Race 13; he was absolutely delighted to have beaten all the powerful ICE boats with his very narrow SLIM. He let Rob win again in Race 14, but repeated his win in Race 15. In the final Race 16 Roger added another win, whilst Rob retired with a technical problem, leaving Peter Shepherd to take 2nd place and Alan Viney 3rd.
After the 176 scores had been checked and the results announced there was a tie for first place with Rob taking Fred's Big Toephy on count back, having just one more win than Roger. This year Sail Footy UK have initiated a novice prize to encourage those who have not been in the top 3 of the last 2 years and at this event it was won by Alan Viney. Competitors thanked Martin Crysell and Hugh McAdoo for running another good event.
Hugh went out in the rubber dinghy on numerous occasions to rescue boats which had developed technical problems, mainly through being over canvassed. However these were only temporary problems and all the competitors sailed in every race. In the gusty conditions the ICE design with its great power is able to absorb some of the impact of these gusts, whereas the narrower and longer SLIM design needs to change to a smaller rig earlier and then suffers in the light conditions. The SLIM boats are beautifully moulded in carbon fibre by Peter Jackson and they were very fast on occasion. These two designs are powered by swing rigs, which dominate the racing. Scott Wallis with his narrow RANGER design, measured on the 'double diagonal' in the Footy box, was the first boat using a balanced una rig.
Overall Results:
1st Rob Vice, Guildford ICE 22pts
2nd Roger Stollery, Guildford ICE 22pts
3rd Peter Jackson, Abington Park SLIM 43pts
4th Peter Shepherd, Abington Park SLIM/ICE 49pts
5th Scott Wallis, Cleveden RANGER 68pts
6th and winner of the 'noVICE' trophy, Alan Viney, Guildford ICE 72pts
7th Peter Dunne, Guildford SUPABUG 80pts
8th Charles Smith, Southwater Dabblers ICE 93pts
9th Mike Ewart, Two Islands '1299' 98pts
10th Keith Parrott, Frensham Pond SC ICE
11th Sid Simms, Birmingham '1299' 114pts