The Tony Bridgewater Trophy
As if to salute the inaugural TB trophy the NNE wind direction that dominated the Bank Holiday weekend was unusual and capricious – therefore challenging for both the 15 competitors and the Betivuka team. To compensate the sun shone and a good-sized fleet enjoyed some very close racing.
First blood went to Skua who had already secured a useful cushion after rounding the windward mark near Chalkdock. It is always difficult to find a clear lane when running along the banks en masse against the tide and there were multiple shenanigans and some interesting calls as the fleet progressed down to the leeward mark near East Head. Skua kept their comfortable lead but Gwaihir got into gear to take up the chase having got past Marengo.
There was an interesting harbour tour for the second race – going to less well-used racing marks, and in the opposite direction to normal. This didn’t seem to faze Marengo who established a slender lead by the time they reached Pivot and despite sustained pressure from Osprey just held them off. Solitude had a good race in third. The overnight event leader was Marengo.
Sunday morning’s race was plagued by a battle between the slow-to-build NNE breeze and an unexpected SW draught which necessitated an hour’s postponement until eventually the Betivuka team has sufficient confidence to start in the SW wind. It turned out to be a mistake! As the fleet crept towards Dunes the faltering breeze expired and boats were parked all over – some had kedged, and others thoughtfully ‘grounded’ so as to avoid being swept away from Dunes. Eventually the seldom used Q flag finishing procedure was used to get a result – and of course the moment that happened the NNE breeze inevitably returned. Skua – ever the specialist in such condition got the nod – then Osprey and Darter.
So to the grand finale with slightly reduced numbers – but with all the contenders (save for Gwaihir – they were apparently suffering from battle fatigue) still vying for top honours, In a decent breeze Svala had the best start and lead at Wear. On the subsequent run to Rookwood the breeze first faded then expired entirely which allowed Bluff to benefit from a better angle in from the opposite bank. Alas they just joined the melee drifting helplessly ever further from the mark. A wake-up call came with the surging arrival of the XOD fleet in the returning NNE breeze – stronger than at any point over the weekend. Svala emerged in the lead but sailing 2up they were over-hauled by Marengo and Osprey. On the next run to Ellanore these two were side by side but at the mark Osprey were inside and moved away on their way to the finish. After the results were (re!) calculated Osprey had their hands and the magnificent Swallow half model by just a single point from Marengo. What a weekend!
1st. Osprey (James Hartley, Ian Tillet and Hartley Jnr
2nd. Marengo (Carolyn Brigg Sue and Simon Hamlyn)
3rd. Skua (Harry Roome, Helen Williams, Keith Bliss and Carol Thomson
4th. Svala (Nigel Masding and Hugo Fisher)
5th Darter (Kit Glover)
Full results at https://swallowclass.org/results/