Bembridge Illusion Team Racing

by Event media on 27 Nov 2007 Nine teams braved icy conditions on Saturday morning for the first day of the Bembridge Illusion Team Racing event.

Eight pairs of competing club sailors were ushered along by the ninth team of race officers, umpires and helpers. Thankfully team number nine were extremely organised so thirty five races were seamlessly rolled back-to-back.

The Bembridge Sailing Club partnership of James Wilson and Ed Peel lost only one race in the whole run up to the final on Sunday. They could not, however, match the ‘Torvill and Dean team’: Bruce Huber and Graham Sunderland (representing Cowes Combined Clubs) who danced rings around all but one flight over the whole weekend!

So with gold and silver decided, the chase for bronze was led by Seaview Yacht Club (Colin and Raymond Simonds). They kept their skates on despite pressure from The Royal Yacht Squadron (Justin Biddle and James Axtell). One advantage of their tussles is that the habour warmed considerably due to all the ‘hot air’ being circulated.

The non-premiership division was dominated by the Downers (RVYC). The Thames teams (both Royal and rundimentary) had some good friendly racing on the Sunday.

Final results

1st – CCC (Bruce Huber & Graham Sunderland)
2nd – BSC (James Wilson & Ed Peel)
3rd – SVYC (Raymond & Colin Simonds)
4th – RYS (Justin Biddle & James Axtell)
5th (Plate) – RVYC ( Mark & Jo Downer)
6th – RTYC (Andrew Eddy & Richard Ambler)
7th – TSC A (Piers Thomas & Sue Farquhar)
8th – TSC B (Barnaby Edwards & Andrew Christie)

Without huge effort both on and off the water by people too numerous to list, this event would simply not have happened. We are all very glad and grateful that it did. Thank you.