Please select your home edition
Edition
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 LEADERBOARD

Autumn Cup 2025 at Fishers Green Sailing Club

by Christian Hill 4 Oct 03:53 AEST 21 September 2025
Autumn Cup at Fishers Green © Christian Hill

Summer becoming a distant memory, local sailors returned home after a summer competing in various class championships, it was time to return to familiar surroundings to battle for the Autumn Cup club championships at FGSC.

A 24 strong fleet comprising of a resurgent Solo fleet of nine boats (possibly getting some practice in for the FGSC open Sunday 19th October - shameless plug), five Lasers, and with a handful of Merlins and Aeros, made for one of the most competitive start lines and three race series since before the summer.

Race 1, A huge wind shift within the 5 minute start sequence, caused a general recall and the course was re-set.

Safely away at the 2nd time of asking apart from the new merlin team in the first outing in there new purchase 3575 "zippy" Mike/Oz who pulled the trigger to early. Leading the way, dusting off the solo, after a summer of yawl and merlin sailing, Paul Rayson solo 5181, closely followed by the aero's of Blake Newman 3600 Graham Newman 3746. As ever with such a large fleet clean air was a premium.

Paul 5181 held his nerve to take the win, Blake Aero 3600 split the solos to take 2nd, Steve Conroy Solo 5328 3rd, 1st double hander Merlin rocket 3715 Richard Cooke/Russell Hall.

Race 2 and a similar pattern occurring at the start on this occasion Laser Richard Bettles and Merlin 3715 Richard/Russell were over, trying to turn round in a tightly packed fleet, proving to be problematic and extremely time consuming.

Changeable and fickle winds at the windward seemed to cause havoc with the status quo turning current form upside down. Step forward the ever growing laser radial fleet to take charge, Claudia Mancini 216625 and Simon Williams 179586, trading places, both getting their elbows out at the tight some may say extremely competitive leeward mark, to defend their position at the front of the fleet, 3774 Richard/Bill had a nice lead on the merlin's, but were pipped at the post by 3715 Richard/Russell.

Race 3, and all to play for. The wind had swung more easterly. The epic, fabulous, magnificent race management team consisting of Christian Hill, Alan Hayward, Colin Hill, Rescue crew and double busy mark layers Richard, Matt, George, Alan, Kiran, quickly tweaked the course for the final race show down.

Just so we were consistent all day, Godfrey solo 4801 pushed his luck and was over and had to go back.

With the fleet thinned out to a mere 16 boats, clear air was a lot easier to find for some. Merlin 3715 led on the water, but like F1 pit stops once the PY's kicked in the real race was between Paul solo 5181, Blake Aero 3600 Claudia laser radial. Paul kept his nose clean and Blake at arms length, to take the race win and the Autumn Cup.

A glorious day at the green, reflected in the huge club turn out, resulting in hard fought competitive racing.

Here's looking forward to the Autumn/Winter series for more of the same. Well done to all racers involved throughout the fleet.

Overall Results:

PosClassBoatSail NoHelmCrewR1R27R3Pts
1stSolo 5181Paul Rayson 1‑412
2ndAero 6Whale3600Blake Newman 2‑1524
3rdSoloIn sincere5328Steve Conroy 3‑536
4thLaser Radial 216625Claudia Mancini 61‑97
5thSoloGybe Talkin4801Godfrey Clark ‑5347
6thLaser Radial 179856Simon Williams ‑14279
7thMerlin RocketTruly Scrumptious3715Richard CookeRussell Hobbs4‑11610
8thLaser 195742Peter Bettles 7‑12512
9thSolo 6020Dave Walford 86(DNC)14
10thSolo 5020Geoff Holmes 117(DNC)18
11thSoloPiglet5249Nick Pighills ‑1010818
12thSolo 5329John White ‑1981220
13thAero 6 3746Graham Newman 9‑181120
14thStreakerGhost2208Roberto Mancini 15‑161025
15thMerlin RocketPanther3774Richard CoulterBill Nokes12‑141325
16thLaser Radial 203297Llynn Rochet 1313(DNC)26
17thSolo 4511Martin Jarvis 189(DNC)27
18thStreakerSamantha1777Richard Piper 17‑191532
19thMerlin RocketZippy3575Mike AtkinsonOz Ahmet‑23201434
20thSolo 4206Pete Hollins 2017(DNF)37
21stLaser Radial 195243Hannah Pighills 16(DNF)DNC42
22ndPhantom (vintage) 897Dave Hodges 21(DNC)DNC47
23rdWineglass 44)Brian CassonLance22(DNC)DNC48
24thLaser Radial 91195New member 24(DNF)DNC50
25thAlbacore 7525Roger CastleDick Reynolds(DNF)DNCDNC52

Related Articles

Sunset Salver at Fishers Green
A 22 race series starting way back in April Blake Newman retains the coveted FGSC sunset salver 2025. A 22 race series starting way back in April. A healthy mix different classes graced the start line over the 18 race series, most popular being the merlin class ten boats across the series. Posted on 22 Sep
Merlin Rocket South East series at Fishers Green
Nestled in the heart of nature, yet only 10 minutes from the M25 Nestled in the heart of nature, yet only 10 minutes from the M25, Fishers Green Sailing Club is an oasis of calm waters with beautiful tree lined surroundings and provided the perfect backdrop for some crazy, shifty and intense racing. Posted on 16 May
Vintage Merlin Rockets at Fishers Green
Wall-to-wall sunshine and an moderate easterly sets the stage With wall-to-wall sunshine and a F3-4 blowing due east the stage was set for a day of excellent racing. However, while a due east wind normally gives a great sail at the Green, the shifts were to characterise the event. Posted on 13 May
ILCA Thames Valley Series Open at Fishers Green
Occasional huge shifts from south-west to north-west for the fleet to contend with Fishers Green SC held their annual Laser/ILCA open meeting on 3rd May which is part of the ILCA Thames Valley Series. Posted on 7 May
Vintage Phantom open at Fishers Green
The first 'all' classic open for many years Fishers Green SC held a Classic Phantom open meeting on 3rd May. The first 'all' classic open for many years. It was great to get the Classic Phantoms out together. Posted on 6 May
Vintage Phantom Open at Fishers Green preview
Bring your 'woodie' along to the stunning Holyfield Lake this May Join us on Saturday 3rd May 2025 for the Wooden Phantom Open Meeting at Fishers Green Sailing Club, set on the stunning Holyfield Lake within the Lee Valley Regional Park. Posted on 9 Apr
Faster, Better, Stronger
A round up of Fishers Green SC Cadet open meeting It was all to play for at the 2025 FGSC Cadet Open as ambitious contenders launched into a light SE breeze on 22 March. Fresh from almost a month of winter training at the green, these cadet sailors looked faster and stronger than ever before. Posted on 26 Mar
Cadet Winter Training at Fishers Green
No mistaking the energy, enthusiasm and commitment from this year's cohort They say 'once a Cadet, always a Cadet', and we were fortunate to have several generations of cadets at this year's 2025 Cadet Winter training event hosted by Fishers Green SC. Posted on 16 Mar
Winter Series at Fishers Green overall
24 races with 35 boats, won by a Merlin Rocket The highly anticipated winter series at Fishers Green Sailing Club kicked off when back when on the 1st December, a 24 race series. The winter series now certainly added to the list of ones to win at the green. Posted on 7 Mar
Join the Open Winter Series at Fishers Green
New trophy up for grabs, and all are welcome Fishers Green are hoping to repeat the success of last winters series by inviting visitors from any nearby clubs who have no racing for the winter period. The series runs through from the start of December to the end of February. Posted on 22 Nov 2024
Rooster 2025B&G Zeus SR AUSVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER