Bembridge Illusion Spring Plate 2022

After a cold week with biting easterly breezes, the weekend forecast looked far more promising with a 9 knot NNEasterly predicted for Saturday and a bit less on Sunday.

Even though there were only fourteen entries on Saturday, it was decided to set the course up outside the harbour to take advantage of a cleaner breeze. After a 40 minute postponement mostly waiting for there to be enough water to launch, the first race got away to a slow but clean start.

Start of Race 1

Bruce Huber found the best of the breeze and established a substantial lead ahead of Mark Downer; there was then an even larger gap to Robin Ebsworth and Mike Issaias. In the second round Mark clawed back a few boat lengths and Colin Simonds made a big gain and ended up in third. Sadly Robin ended up seventh.

With the breeze becoming increasingly fickle, the start of the second race saw a General Recall with the second start under Flag U.

Start of Race 2

Re-start of Race 2

Having concluded there was a little more breeze on the right of the course, Mark rounded the windward marks with a substantial lead ahead of Robin and Andy Christie. The run to the leeward gate was very slow as the leaders tried different tactics to find the best pressure as what little breeze that there was veered well over 45 degrees and the escorting RIBs did their best to adjust the course. Despite best efforts by Bruce to make up for lost ground from the first round, he could not overtake the front two; Robin was fourth while lower down the fleet Mike and Colin tied for seventh.

Bembridge Illusion Spring Plate 2022 - photo © Mike Samuelson

There was just enough forward momentum at the start of the third race for it to look as though a full race was going to be possible. However the closer they got to the windward marks, the less likely it look that even a one round race was going to be possible. In the event, seven boats stuck it out and were finished as they passed the Committee Boat on the run to the leeward gate. Julia, Colin and Mark took the first three places with Richard Ambler in fourth.

Start of Race 3

Sunday morning turned out to be even more frustrating with glimmers of a sailable breeze coming and going. However by 12:30 with no enthusiasm to launch only to drift around and then recover, the plan to go racing was abandoned and boats were de-rigged. But not before Julia 'christened' Jamie Scrimgour's new boat, Surf.

Naming ceremony

So with only three races and therefore no discard, Mark took home the Spring Plate, with Julia and Colin in second and third places.

Bembridge Illusion Spring Plate 2022 - photo © Mike Samuelson

No racing next weekend, and then its Easter with Vernon's Easter Egg on Good Friday & Easter Saturday, and the Flying Dutchman on Easter Day and Easter Monday.

Additional photos at flic.kr/s/aHBqjzJdxu

Overall Results: