RS Elite Tri-Handled Trophy for Cowes Week overall

Julia Egerton-Warburton Presents the RS Elite Tri-Handled Trophy to Paul Fisk and the crew of Legs Eleven © Charlie Egerton-Warburton

RS Elite Association chairman Paul Fisk has made a clean sweep of trophies in the RS Elite class in Cowes Week this year, winning the new Chairman's Flute for the first four days and the Tri-Handled Trophy for the first RS Elite in Cowes Week overall.

In what turned out to be a very windy week, with racing for White Group cancelled on the first two days due to the weather, Paul Fisk's Legs Eleven (RS Elite 110), skippered by Paul and crewed by James Espey and Joe Bradley with a guest appearance by Tom Stewart, took three race wins in the remaining five races, together with one second and one third place.

Second and third places overall were very closely contested with RS Elite 101 Centurion and RS Elite 46 The Doctor finishing with 13 points each with the final result decided on countback. Centurion sailed by Robert Holbrook and crew took second place with The Doctor, skippered by Peter Copsey and crewed by Jez White and Anna Wells and Carol Leaning on separate days, taking third.

Except for the first race on Monday, the race committee decided to send the smaller White Group boats to the east where they would be more sheltered from the southerly or south westerly winds, giving downwind starts on these days. Winds were very tricky with some big shifts and frequent rain showers on some days. The racing was closely contested, and the final result was uncertain until the final race on Friday.

Legs Eleven had a three-point lead over Centurion after Thursday's race and had to get a good result on Friday to be sure of taking the series. On the last race Centurion was on the course side of the line at the start and had to return to clear the line allowing Legs Eleven to power away under spinnaker in a gusty wind to eventually win the race and the series.

This was the first year in which the Tri-Handled Trophy has been awarded for the first RS Elite in Cowes Week overall. It was originally presented by Charlie and Julia Egerton-Warburton for the first four days of Cowes Week. This year the new Chairman's Flute was presented by Paul Fisk for the first four days. In the event he won both trophies.

Overall Results: