Tom Bombadill wins Coutts Quarter Ton Cup

by Fiona Brown on 19 Jun 2008 It may have been overcast and windy, but that didn't stop the Quarter Tonners having an absolutely stunning final day at the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup off Cowes. The teams closed the event in style with two tough final races in a gusty 17 to 28 knot south westerly. To ensure the best chance of getting races eight and nine of the series completed Bob Milner and the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Race Committee took the fleet east and set their course off Fishbourne, in the relative shelter of the Isle of Wight.

The strong winds made for thrilling racing, some great downwind sleigh rides and several spectacular, but fortunately largely harmless, broaches. For ASAP and the Christie, Layton, Crawford, Churchill Syndicate it proved to be an expensive day. Leading the pack and neck and neck with Darren Marston's Catch and Louise Morton's Espada as they set off down the final run of race eight all was looking good for a podium finish until a big gust rolled down the course. As it hit the boat began to accelerate, but unfortunately the rig accelerated faster, there was an almighty crack as their ancient backstay leg got and the rig went over the bow. Fortunately the boys were philosophical about the situation accepting that it's one of the hazards of sailing such historic little boats and even rather proud to have joined the illustrious ranks of those who have dropped a Quarter Tonner rig. They soon had the broken mast back aboard and were heading home to Cowes.

Another victim of the heavy conditions was Graham and Victoria Hetherington's Great Bear IV, a 1985 Joubert Nivelt design, whose 21 year old rudder stock finally decided that it had had enough and gave up the ghost giving the crew a few hairy moments as they narrowly avoided their near competitors, dropped their spinnaker and the boat back under control.

Meanwhile back in the race Catch went on to win by just 11 seconds from Howard Sellars & Mike Till's Bullet with Graydon Dawson in Diamond third and Chris George and Kevin Frosts' Tom Bombadill fourth. For Tom Bombadill this reinforced their overall lead and going into the final race they were looking confident although Tony Dodd's Purple Haze was still in contention.

After an initial general recall race nine got away at the second attempt and from the outset Louise Morton and her all girl crew took the lead. Catch was closest to them on the water, but it was Purple Haze who was their closest rival on corrected time and the two boats went round the course neck and neck. The Race Committee had set a traditional Solent course with plenty of fetching and two sail reaching taking us all back to the glory days of IOR. As the wind continued to come through in chunky squalls there was plenty more rocking and rolling and several more spectacular broaches to keep the photographer's happy. As the boats approached the line Espada had a comfortable lead from Catch but it was Purple Haze all eyes were fixed on and the clicking of stop watches could be heard from the press boat. In fact the two boats were so close that it wasn't until they got ashore that they knew Purple Haze had beaten Espada by just 1 second. Tom Bombadill finished third to clinch the overall competition while Ollie Ophanus in Supernova took fourth, David Tydeman's Snoopy was fifth and Catch sixth.

In the overall standings Tom Bombadill, owned by Chris Frost and Kevin George and crewed by Dave Lens, Jo Chatterton and Shredder, are the 2008 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup winners. Tony Doddy's Purple Haze, helmed by Garrod Hewlett, finished second overall with David Tydeman's Snoopy third and Louise Morton and her all girl crew in Espada fourth.

At the prize giving there were a number of special awards alongside the main prizes. Mike Till, aged 69, won the Walking Stick Trophy for the oldest bowman. The Youngest Combined Crew Age prize went to Alexandra Bailey and her team in Arbitrator and the Oldest Combined Crew Age prize went to Adrian Bishop's Samurai.

The Concours D'elegance for the Marineware Trophy, which is judged by the Race Committee, was awarded to Malcolm Donald's beautiful modified 1977 Waarschip Love In A Mist. And last, but without question of doubt not least, the infamous Ruffazgutz Trophy (for those boats definitely not in contention for the Concours D'elegance) went to the team that most ably demonstrated that it is possible to take a boat that hasn't seen the light of day for over 20 years, put it afloat without doing any work on it and still have great fun and do surprisingly well in a regatta. Peter 'Morty' Morton, Chairman of the Quarter Ton Class, and his crew aboard Anchor Challenge were delighted to accept this special award, although Morty did note 'I think it's going to be a long winter in the boat shed!'

In his thank you speech Morty also thanked event sponsor Coutts for their fantastic ongoing support of the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup. This was the second year they have supported the event and the class was delighted to hear that Coutts has also confirmed it's sponsorship for the 2009 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup. 'We're delighted to be involved once again with the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup and look forward to future years.' Said Stephen Kemp, Client Partner,
Coutts.

Results: http://www.rcyc.co.uk/da/68291

To view two excellent slideshows from Fiona Brown http://www.fionabrown.phanfare.com/album/609641!click_here

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