Clive Hand Memorial Trophy 2022

Clive Hand Memorial Trophy 2022 © Sue Brown Photography

Clive Hand Memorial Trophy 2022 © Sue Brown Photography

Clive Hand Memorial Trophy 2022 © Caz Hand

Wow, what a day of radio racing.

Quiet and still at 7.30am, Scotland Farm was looking its best. The freshly mown grass and Mediterranean blue water welcomed 34 skippers who had entered the 2022 Clive Hand Memorial Trophy. The only sound heard was Chef Mick and Jan and their bacon buttie's sizzling away in the club house and the occasional camper stirring from their slumbers.

By 8.00am the race team had started their preparations and the 1st of the travelling competitors were parking up. There was still little breeze and the boat crew struggled to lay a course with the southerly breeze shifting 45 degrees as the wind fought to settle in strength and direction, eventually the crew decided to lay two courses, allowing racing to start just after the scheduled time.

Chef Mick (Chamberlain) welcomed all the skippers to Lincoln Radio Sailing Club before handing them over to Peter Cogill who would run the day's racing.

The two seeding races were sailed from the South bank, with Rob Wilson and Nigel Brown being victorious in tight racing, race 2 was equally tight, something that would continue throughout the day, Rob took this race as well before a settling wind and slight change of direction allowed the race team to change the course and switch to the East bank. The course, starting with a slightly port biased line to a starboard rounded windward mark and spreader then led the fleet to a gate that was set further away from the bank to give a decent length and direction to the beat which was repeated before finishing between the windward and spreader marks. This course gave plenty of opportunities for "snakes and ladders" in the gusts and many changes of place were seen on both beats and runs throughout the day.

This course would continue for the rest of the day despite a breeze with constant shifts during the races. Consistency was difficult for most skippers, although Darin Ballington managed to judge the breeze and manage the traffic best to take 5 wins over the day. Other race winners were John Tushingham, and David Hope, but as usual with the Clive Hand Memorial event it was not all about the winners. Within the entry list it was fantastic to see local and travelling skippers enjoying themselves, particularly pleasing was the number of new skippers tempted to sail, the reputation of the event and its friendly competitive racing must be spreading! 9 skippers from the host club were joined by sailors from North, East, South and West. The furthest travelled was tied between Tim Long (Abersoch) and Ken Binks (Eastbourne) with many from the midlands setting their alarms early for the day, amongst these were our three lady skippers, Jen, Tracey, and Penelope.

Clive Hand Memorial Trophy 2022 - photo © Sue Brown Photography

After nine completed races, Peter called an end to racing and the skippers came together to congratulate the winners and thank the volunteers and helpers.

Clive's wife, and fellow skipper Jen presented the prizes, watched by his sons and family members.

Clive Hand Memorial Trophy 2022 - photo © Caz Hand

Not everyone can be a winner, but everyone can have fun and enjoyment, something that LRSC offer in abundance and hopefully the Clive Hand Memorial Trophy is now a "must" for the skippers and we hope that they will return (with their friends) in 2023 for the next running of the event.

A special thank you to all those helpers who have not been mentioned in this report, without you the skippers could not have gone racing and the event would not have happened.

Note: The Club also raised £150.00 for the RNLI, £1,250 since the event started.

Racing occurs every weekend at Scotland Farm, and visitors are welcome, please see our website for more information, lincolnradiosailingclub.com

Overall Results: