Setley Cup 2002 Junior Model Yacht Race

by Geoff Stock 2 Jan 2003 14:47 GMT 26 December 2002

Lymington, England

Photo © Geoff Stock The multihulls start

Boxing day dawned: grey and overcast. Though the temperature was comfortable, a 15 knot SSW breeze and three 25 knot rain squalls, tested both design and construction in equal measure. Entries were up this year, with 10 monohulls and 20 multihulls competing for the Setley Cup and the Seahorse Trophy respectively. With the wind blowing straight down the pond, the course was a beam reach across the lake; the series consisting of 4 races, with one discard being applied.

On the eastern side of the pond the start line was very short which, though fine for the monohulls, was very difficult for the 20 Multihulls, and resulted in numerous collisions and 'rafts'. Positioning on the line and ability to get away from the pack were therefore essential qualities.

The Multihull division was closely fought at the top, with 4 boats completing all races. The Doerr designed bottle boat (which was also Salterns rule compatible), in the capable hands of Kirsty Urwin, came out on top, winning the series with a race to spare, though by winning the final race, Simon Mason finished just one point behind Kirsty. Meanwhile, Roop Stock and Richard Mason were in hot pursuit of the leaders, finishing on equal points, with Richard taking 3rd on countback, after executing a classic covering manoeuvre in race 4; a skill he has retained, despite the family's recent experience on the Hauraki Gulf.

The Monohull series was closely fought between 5 successful boats. Different design approaches were in evidence: the "Robber" design from the Jardine stable, Connie Stock's reliable double canted keel design , and the slim red arrow of Aaron Murton. It was Keava Tinley however who, by winning races one and two, looked to be the favourite. However she faded disastrously in the following two races leaving the field open to the Robber design, this year under the control of James Bye, who won with 2,1,1, from Connie Stock's 2,2,3. Aaron Murton finished fouth with 3,4,4.

It was clear that many competitors had spent a very industrious Christmas day. All the usual construction materials were on display, along with a few less traditional items, such as Magnus Lee's sculpture of cardboard, brown tape and shelf racking. Magnus' boat spent most of the morning under an increasingly bare pole. His boat was massively constructed, incorporating a good strong mast, that probably contributed to its impressive upside down stability. The Fanstone design, apparently conceived and constructed late on Christmas night, showed heavy Cabernet Sauvignon design influences. Some other craft had been fashioned from Christmas packaging materials, and after each start, several lumps of expanded polystyrene were to be seen making their way downwind. (We sincerely hope that the warranties of all this year's faulty electrical goods will be unaffected). After consideration of all the extraordinary contraptions on show, the construction prize was awarded to Hannah Brickley-Wood (plus brothers and sisters unknown) for an excellent piece of work that made use of more traditional Setley Cup materials: plastic drinks bottles and bamboo.

It is events such as the Setley Cup, and rain squalls such as that experienced at the start of race three, that separate the men from the boys: as you'd expect, the men huddled in their cars with thermos flasks, while the boys (and girls) splashed around in the water and messed around with boats. Which means we can report that in Lymington, in late 2002, everything is how it should be... Thanks to all those who organised this year's event: the Wilson clan on the finish line, the Tinley family manning the rescue craft, and of course Jez Fanstone, the skipper of Volvo 60 News Corp, for presenting the prizes.