Illusion Christmas Cracker Bembridge SC

by Rudy Jurg - Press Officer Illusion Class on 5 Jan 2011 After a few weeks of rest in which the Illusion Class in Bembridge was unable to race due to unfavourable tides 29 sailors came out for the Christmas Cracker on the weekend of 2-3 January. Probably the biggest turn out for a one-design regatta in the Northern Hemisphere at this time of year.

Racing was inside the harbour in a chilly varying breeze from North Easterly direction Force 2-3. After plenty of on the water banter and new year’s wishes racing got underway. A surprisingly clean start with all the top sailors favouring pin end squeezing anybody out who could not keep up. James Meaning, who only came back in the class this year, took off in a high speed mode to lead all the way round. He was followed in some distance behind by Bruce Huber and Piers Thomas. Some of the other usual front runners struggled to free themselves from the middle pack which is improving after each regatta.

In race two it was again pin end favoured but this time Bruce Huber took the lead by some margin. In the varying conditions it was a game of snakes and ladders and Graham Sunderland worked his way into a third place. In the middle of the pack Graham Bailey collided with James Meaning in a port and starboard incident. However his wife Julia Bailey made up for her husband’s short comings by finishing a very credible forth place. Much of the race she was closely followed by Rudy Jurg but he hooked himself on a mooring line just in front of the finish line and had to lower himself in freezing waters to cut loose and finished eventually second from last.

In race 3 Bruce Huber took off again but this time it was Raymond Simonds who was in hot pursuit together with his brother Colin Simonds. The brothers are among a few others very loud on the water and the rest of the fleet was well entertained by their conversations about wind and tactics.

On the second day of racing the wind was a variable Southerly swinging to the East for the second race. Wind speed was 0-2 Bft max. The race officer made the difficult an perhaps unfortunate decision to sail inside the harbour as outside conditions seemed to be more steady.

Race leader Bruce Huber was unable to race due to family duties which left the competition wide open for a number of sailors to take the overall price. In a light breeze race 4 got off to an even start but Raymond Simonds won easily by big margin by a nice personal breeze and lift on the left hand side of course. Pro sailor and author Graham Sunderland scored second and Graham Bailey third. Jo Downer, who so far had only scored high teens on the previous day, scored a very credible sixth place. Not just by luck but good sailing.

In the last race the race officer had to abandon the first start after the wind swung at least 90 degrees. A new course was set but this meant a very short beat so a clean start was paramount. Pin end again worked well but David Franks decided to start on port which meant a number of boats had to take avoiding action and a loud hail of expletives could be heard, he will probably not be doing that again! It was the legendary Philip Woodford who despite being in his 80’s took the lead, remained calm on the downwind leg and took the gun on a shortened course in a dying breeze. A hungry pack of sailors followed and it was a luck of the draw how you got through the gate, chaos is best to describe it and some of the rules of sailing seemed no longer to be applied. Although the right hand mark was favoured due to the large cluster of boats tangled into each other left was the cleaner option and several people came in from behind to get a good result. Last race of the day was abandoned due to lack of wind. Graham Sunderland was the overall winner followed closely by an elated Colin Simonds and James Meaning third.

An interesting set of videos can be viewed on-line shot by Graham Bailey who sailed much of the first day’s regatta one handed! An insider’s guide to sailing Illusions! Further information, videos and photos can be found on the following sites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qwZ7pN2QM4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK-r1_E13uQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMX9OsxcK54
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkeUpUNaxuU
http://www.bembridgesc.net/

Next racing is 8/9th January for the Ice Breaker Throphy.