Illusion National Championship 2025 at Bembridge Sailing Club
by Mike Samuelson 31 Mar 09:17 BST
29-30 March 2025
The weather forecast for this year's Illusion Nationals held over the weekend of 29 - 30 March looked very promising with light but potentially favourable SW'erly breezes and bright sunshine. Although in the event, things were not quite that straight forward, and patience was the order of the day on Saturday, overall we were blessed with Champagne conditions.
Twenty eight boats rigged up on Saturday morning and slowly made their way out of the harbour for a 10:00 start. The first group struggled with a very light and shifty NWesterly breeze and a strong in coming tide so were helped by the two safety RIBs; fortunately the remainder were able to take advantage of a SWesterly that started to fill in.
However it was just playing with us and no sooner had the course been set, then it veered back to the NWest and within twenty minutes had become a F2 SEasterly. Just as the course was set up, it changed again to a SSWesterly, so after a further delay as the buoys were moved, the first race eventually started an hour later than programmed.
Although very close, the line was called clear and the fleet headed in towards Silver Beach. While by no means a stranger to Bembridge, it was still good to see visitor Jack Grogan rounding the windward gates ahead of the local hot shots.
Jack extended his lead ahead of Mark Downer, Colin Simonds, Justin Biddle and Raymond Simonds during the second round but got caught out at the start of the third when the breeze veered more SWesterly and Mark was in the right place at the right time and finished well ahead. Justin was third, Raymond was fourth and Bruce Huber was fifth.
After the course was re-set it took three attempts to get the second race under way with the third start under a Black Flag.
Jack and Raymond rounded the windward marks ahead of last year's runner up Tiger Tellwright, Mike Toogood, Nigel Grogan, Mark and Bruce. However by the second round Tiger had moved into the lead with Mark breathing down his neck. Despite best efforts to defend his first place, he ended up coming third behind Mark and Raymond. Bruce was fourth and Bill Daniels was fifth.
With the tide ebbing fast and after a further tweak of the course, the start of the third and final race of the day saw the Black Flag used again. And even then it was a very close run thing with Tiger, mere inches away from being disqualified!
With the breeze now firmly established, conditions really were almost perfect for the twenty four Illusions still racing. Bruce was first round the windward marks with Colin and Mark close behind. On the second round, Jack began to press Bruce for the lead and narrowly finished ahead at the windward mark finish after three and a half rounds. Mark was third and Jo, who had sailed really well to catch up, finish fourth.
After an excellent Class dinner in the Club library on Saturday evening, and although there was a bit of confusion over BST timings, twenty eight boats eventually made their way out of the harbour in the NNW'erly F4 breeze for races four, five and six. The first start, under Flag P, was so competitive that the Race Officers were forced to signal a General Recall. The second start using Flag U was more successful albeit there were a couple of boats only inches off the line.
Jack lead the way round the windward marks with Mark, Raymond, Bruce and Tiger not far behind. Over the next two rounds Mark developed a substantial lead with Jack, Bruce Raymond and Tiger doing their best to keep in touch with him but failing!
Despite occasional gusts of 20 knots, it was hoped that a Flag U start would ensure that the second race of the day got away first time - wishful thinking! After another General Recall, it was Black Flag time again.
Although he had sought to protect himself from being disqualified for being OCS by buying the Race Officer a drink during Saturday evening's dinner, the video of the second start shows Bill Daniels just over cooking it. What bad luck because he had a storming race and lead from half way up the first beat. So with Bill scored DSQ, first went to Mark, second was Justin and Bruce was third.
Starting off again under the Black Fag, the third and final race of the day saw a clean start. Unusually Mark found himself in irons at the pin end of the line and was the last boat to actually cross the line. Although a bit academic as he could afford to use the race as his discard, the big question was how far up the fleet he was going to be by the finish!
Bruce and Alastair established an early lead with Caroline, Colin, Jo and Tiger all close but with a lot of ground to catch up. Mark meanwhile moved steadily up the fleet and by the time the race finished at the windward mark after three and a half rounds was fourth! After not the best of results over the two days, Caroline managed to be on the right side of the shifts and came home second ahead of her husband Colin. Bill was fifth demonstrating that his boat speed in the previous race, despite being disqualified, was not a flash in the pan. Sixth to ninth places all finished within a few seconds of each other which again just shows the closeness of the racing.
So after two excellent days racing, team Downer repeated their successes from the 2024 Nationals with Mark first and Jo the first lady; Bruce was second; Jack was third and also the first visitor again. Raymond was the first over 75 with his brother Colin picking up the first over 65 prize. Finally Mike Issaias was the most improved from last year's Championships.
No racing next weekend due to the tides; the one following (12-13 April) is for the 'Illusion' Trophy.
Additional photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjC7knF
Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Illusion nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 164 | Mark Downer | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | 101 | Bruce Huber | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| 3 | 87 | Jack Grogan | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 16 |
| 4 | 165 | Raymond Simonds | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 27 |
| 5 | 80R | Tiger Tellwright | 7 | 3 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 28 |
| 6 | 85 | Justin Biddle | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 17 | 30 |
| 7 | 170 | Colin Simonds | 4 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 33 |
| 8 | 166 | Jo Downer | 16 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 41 |
| 9 | 135 | Alastair Speare‑Cole | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 47 |
| 10 | 152 | Mike Issaias | 23 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 48 |
| 11 | 67 | Caroline Simonds | 13 | 21 | 10 | 24 | 19 | 2 | 49 |
| 12 | 142 | Mike Toogood | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 49 |
| 13 | 68 | Bill Daniels | 22 | 5 | 5 | 14 | D | 5 | 51 |
| 14 | 155 | David Russell‑Jones | 18 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 20 | 64 |
| 15 | 169 | Oliver Morgan | 12 | 18 | 14 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 70 |
| 16 | 130 | Rosie Gosling | 11 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 71 |
| 17 | 174 | Serena Gosling | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 79 |
| 18 | 149 | Andy Christie | 10 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 84 |
| 19 | 136 | Simon Birchenough | 19 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 86 |
| 20 | 160 | Owen Pay | 9 | 17 | 23 | R | S | S | 88 |
| 21 | 147 | Monty Irwin | S | S | S | 12 | 6 | 9 | 89 |
| 22 | 80 | Olly Laughton‑Scott | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 93 |
| 23 | 156 | Richard Ambler | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | S | S | 110 |
| 24 | 163 | Tim Lyle | 17 | R | S | 23 | 18 | 22 | 111 |
| 25 | 138 | Ian Prideaux | 25 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 118 |
| 26 | 124 | Hugh Doherty | R | S | S | 20 | 21 | R | 134 |
| 27 | 150 | Will Lowe | 27 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 118 |
| 28 | 73 | Nick Rowton‑Lee | 26 | 24 | S | S | S | S | 143 |
| 29 | 105 | William Mills | S | S | S | 27 | 24 | R | 144 |
| 30 | 168 | Nigel Grogan | 24 | R | S | R | S | S | 148 |