GP14 Victor Trophy at Welsh Harp Sailing Club

GP14 Welsh Harp Victor Trophy © Luke Howard

GP14 Welsh Harp Victor Trophy © Luke Howard

Sam Watson & James Hockey win the GP14 Welsh Harp Victor Trophy © Luke Howard

The Victor Trophy was contested by sixteen crews in testing conditions culminating in 25 knot gusts, and short sharp showers. Four races were closely fought back to back save for a short break for on-the-water snacks.

A Committee Boat peppered in red and green meant a challenging course, set by Race Officer and resident sailing guru Norman Brown, that included two long beats and a ripping reach, making the most of the predominately SSW wind cutting across the lake.

While capsizes were frequent and frequently spectacular, Covid conscious safety crews kept everybody safe. Despite periodic bouts of weather induced chaos visitors Sam Watson and James Hockey (Nantwich SC & Lough Foyle SC) closely followed by James Goodfellow and Richard Cornes (Harwich SC & Burghfield SC), serenely dominated proceedings, with our own Commodore Maciek Matyjaszczuk and Chris Lomax taking a well-earned third place honours.

Other notable performances/events/recollections include: Sue Tomkins being propelled off the stern and groping in vain for the mainsheet as her crew Denise Vale pressed on single-handed on the beat to 2S; Scooter and Michal Szady breaking their mast in Race 2; the strangely ever present yellow of Alastair Fry and Matt Johnson's boat reflected in an impressively consistent set of results for 4th overall; Helen Allen delicately berating her crew Johannes Menzel while he remained semi submerged and to all intents and purposes barely conscious in his efforts to re-attach the rudder; nip and tuck racing throughout the series between Tomasz Szakola/Charlie Cotter, Steve Cooper/Joel Schrire, and Keith Street/ Hannah Liptrot; the havoc caused by Yasmin Hales and Romek Kowalewski when, caught by a ferocious gust, they capsized at 7P; historical tales of the unexpected relayed by Robin Imray in the safety boat; the good humour of Andy Wadsworth and Kathy Howard; the grim determination of Andy Shrimpton and Roger Jeffs; and last but not least, Alistair Lambert and Caro Mitchel gaining a credible and seemingly effortless fourth place in Race 3.

Finally, mention must be made of the half time sustenance (cake, fruit and beer!) despatched at a distance and with gloves, from the safety boat by Liz Guest - which was universally welcome.

Overall Results: