Fred's Big Toephy Footy for Footy class at Guildford Model Yacht Club
by Roger Stollery 28 Apr 2022 17:32 BST
27 April 2022
Roger Stollery's WONKY going well out of the waves near the bank during Fred's Big Toephy Footy for Footy class © Keith Parrott
Storm Eunice prevented long distance travel in February and this annual open event was rescheduled to April. Any thought that this might be warmer was removed by the northerly winds, which made it feel like February!
16 races were sailed in a very variable breeze never followed the forecast for a constant east north-east wind direction, which later in the day a bit north-westerly.
RO Charles Wand-Tetley set the windward leeward course to suit the ENE wind from the south bank control area, but it was clear that this was not ideal and competitors moved their cars and equipment to the west bank, which provided a better course and racing, although the wind was still cantankerously variable.
Peter Shepherd with his home-made balsa FAT BOY SLIM made it plain that he wanted to retain this trophy and won the first race. However, David Wilkinson sailing his newly acquired original SLIM, that won the 2014 Gold Cup, won Race 2.
It was good to see Phil Taylor's beautifully made balanced Una succeeding against the swing rigs. Peter then won four races on the trot only to be beaten in Race 7 by Roger Stollery's WONKY.
After the lunch break David made his new boat dominant for Races 8 & 9, until Peter got back into his habit, by winning Races 10,11,13 & 16. His fellow clubmate Peter Jackson sailing his IBEX design interrupted this run by winning races 12 & 15.
It was good to see long-time Footy supporter Charles Smith racing again and thoroughly enjoying it, as well as Colin Robertson, who was the most improved skipper of the event, placing higher than he had ever done before and not finishing last!
Keith Parrott had technical problems, which he couldn't solve, but helped the running of the event and took photographs.
Results:
1st Peter Shepherd Hollowell SC, FAT BOY SLIM 17
2nd David Wilkinson Whitefriars SC, SLIM 26
3rd Peter Jackson Hollowell SC, IBEX 29
4th Roger Stollery Guildford, WONKY 53
5th Charles Smith Frensham Pond RSC, SLIM 68
6th Colin Robertson Cheddar Steam, SLIM 72
7th Keith Parrott Frensham Pond RSC, ICE 104