Chase Sailing Club Presidents Trophy 2023

Chase Sailing Club Presidents Trophy Race 2023 © Dave Watkins

Sixteen club members competed for the Presidents Trophy over the bank holiday weekend at the Chase Sailing Club. The race being a long-established club tradition, it is 3 handicap races over the day with all three races to count, no discards.

This makes for some very competitive racing and this year did not disappoint, with a good forecast of light to moderate westerly winds and dry conditions everyone was looking forward to seeing what Neil Davies (OOD) would set as the first course.

The first race started at 12pm, there was a little confusion as to the start time, the club's traditional start time is 12pm not 1pm as advertised, it was decided to get under way with the beat set up to mark number 4 the start line would have to be close into the shore. Neil did not disappoint with an excellent course set but a tight start line.

As the boats lined up there was some competitive start line tactics with many boats finding themselves on the wrong side of the line, Finley Watson in his Laser, Adam Froggatt in his Phantom and Dave Watkins in a D-Zero all competing for positions, a general recall was inevitable and the OOD had no choice but to start the race again after a short delay.

This time all the boats got away under a steady breeze, with the odd rumble of thunder and a heavy rain shower. Adam showed his blistering pace in the boat but was under individual recall after being a little too eager again on the start, it was Finley Watson in the laser who took the win from the GP of Rob Stringer and Peter Tate, Finley showing some of the pace which brought him so much success at Bass week.

With some more members ready for the second race, the commadore discussed with the OOD and it was agreed to award average points for the mix up with the start time.

This did not detract from the competitive racing it only made the results closer at the end, so it was all to play for!

The second race started without any issues, Fin commanded the mark end and shut the door to all who tried to sneak in, Dave Watkins in his D-Zero getting the door firmly shut in his face!

Once again it was Adam who showed his pace and left the rest of fleet to their own race, one to watch for the Nationals in a few weeks.

Finley showed some fantastic pace downwind as the breeze started to disappear, Neil (OOD) had set a big course, the length of the sailing lake, this made for some interesting beats due to the shifty conditions.

But it was Rob and Peter in the GP who showed us why they have many of the club trophies, making the most of the shifty conditions to finish in second, 1 second on corrected time ahead of Fin!

Richard Instone finished fourth in his Solo, managing to stick with the GP to set up an interesting final race.

The third race stated with a different beat as the angle had changed slightly, as the boats lined up, the wind shifted again, the line now with a heavy bias made for an interesting start, The OOD let the race go and all the boats got on to the business of the first beat, with the wind swinging all over the place it was Andi Way in his beautiful Wooden Phantom who found himself heading for the windward mark, much to the fleets congratulations, I think Andi was a little surprised.

Everyone got down to business with any of the four boats that could win the trophy. Once again Adam showed us the form that he's in by taking the win, Mark Blackham in his Blaze showed some excellent speed to get away in the first lap taking second, with Richard in the Solo coming in third.

Who would finish in fourth? The GP once again managed to find a way and finished 1 second on corrected time again ahead of Fin. Tough to take, as you can see from the photo but that's racing!

So it was all down to that last race and 1 second! The GP14 of Rob Stringer and Peter Tate taking the trophy by 1 point from Finley in the Laser.

The Commodore Dave Watkins thanked everyone, last year's winner James Vyse and Trish Blackham for doing safety cover, Neil for OOD and all the competitors. The President of the club, Steve Turner awarded the Trophy.

Everyone enjoyed a sociable drink and discussed the next club event, which will be a Sprint Championship for the Commadores Cup and regatta on the 14th/15th October.

Overall Results: