Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2025

The weekend Regatta was for the Guy Fawkes Trophy - a trophy that goes back to the early 1990s with Vernon Stratton as its first winner. Despite the opportunity to go for a hat trick of wins, Raymond Simonds was sadly unable to race; however he lent his boat to Paul Newell - one of original Illusion owners. Paul reckoned he had not been in an Illusion for thirteen years (Vernon's Memorial Sail Past) and not raced for at least five years prior to that.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2025 - photo © Mike Samuelson

Twenty Illusionists rigged up for an 11:30 start on Saturday morning however in the absence of any sailable breeze, and with plenty of water, it was decided to postpone for at least half an hour in the hopes that the forecast light Westerly breeze would materialise. In the event, a gentle Easterly came in first so it was decided to give it a go. Although it was clear that no one was going to be making a lot of progress, there were sufficient zephyrs to allow boats to spread out along the line; also for the last Regatta winner (Jockey Wilson) to continue to be at the front end of fleet. There were four boats OCS at the pin end of the line - David Peerless and Mark Downer (who both came back) and Andrew Eddy and Tim Lyle (who didn't).

Start of Race 1 on Saturday

Rory Morrison rounded the windward marks close behind Jockey; there was then a gap to Owen Pay, Paul Newell and Jo Downer. After a slow run to the leeward gate, the race was shortened to just one round. As it turned out, a wise decision as the breeze backed 180 degrees just as the lead boats (Jockey, Rory, Owen and Paul) were heading back to the finish line.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2025 - photo © Mike Samuelson

After a quick reset of the whole course, the second race was soon under way. With the pin directly in line with the sun which made spotting extremely difficult it was decided to start under Flag U - a good move as no-one was temped to cross the line early.

Start of Race 2 on Saturday

With the majority of the fleet going left, Rory, Andy Christie and Olly Laughton-Scott rounded the windward marks ahead of the rest. Andy found better boat speed on the run to the leeward gate and would have been the easy winner had the race been only one round, however his moment of glory was not to be and he had to make do with a third behind Jockey and Mark who powered into first and second during the second round.

After a quick tweaking of the windward marks as the breeze backed even further left and with clouds blanking the sun, the third and final race of the day reverted back to Flag P.

Start of Race 3 on Saturday

After an excellent start, Rory was initially the boat to beat with Mark and Jockey continuing to battle for supremacy, the three round race got very exciting as it reached its climax with Jockey picking up his third win of the day; Mark meanwhile having taken the other side of the leeward gate had to make do with fourth behind Rory and Owen.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2025 - photo © Mike Samuelson

With a delayed start on Sunday to allow people the opportunity to attend local Remembrance Day services, Sunday's racing got away only five minutes later that re-scheduled. The 12 knot (gusting 17 knots) Southerly breeze provided some very close racing over a relatively compact course which called for four round races. After a good start, the first race saw Jockey again leading the fleet as they rounded the windward marks.

Start of Race 1 (4) on Sunday

David Russell-Jones (who had not been able to race the previous day) was close behind with Rory and Mark only just off the pace. As the race progressed Mark moved up closer behind Jockey by dint of better boat speed down wind. With BHYC also racing, there was nearly an 'interesting' situation at the leeward gate!

Leeward gate Race 1 (BHYC Scows)

With better boat speed upwind Jockey just got home a couple of seconds ahead of Mark. Jo Downer had an excellent race and came third with David R-J fourth.

Other than a bit of tweaking of the leeward gate no course changes were required for the second race of the day. Again started on Flag P there were a couple of boats OCS but they came back.

Start of Race 2 (5) on Sunday

Jockey and David R-J were the first to fly their spinnakers on the first run. However by the end of the second round Mark had moved into second and was almost match racing with Jockey. David R-J and Rory were some way behind with Mike Toogood next to show as they came to complete the third round. Unfortunately for Mike he then had a senior moment thinking the race had finished so ended up rather lower down the fleet when the race finished after four rounds! On the fourth round Mark eventually got ahead of Jockey and broke his run of ten firsts!

Leeward gate Race 2 (5) (Mark & Jockey)

The third and final race of the day saw the first General Recall of the weekend. The re-start under Flag U saw a number of boats pushing their luck, however somehow everyone just held back enough to see a clean start.

Start of Race 3 (6) (General Recall)

Re-start of Race 3 (6) on Sunday

Jockey was yet again going like a train upwind and although a bit slower than Mark downwind he established a considerable lead over the first three rounds. Mark clawed back some of the lead on the fourth round but it was not sufficient to stop Jockey taking his fifth win of the weekend.

Leeward gate Race 3 (6) - mid-fleet

It did not take a lot of calculation to establish that Jockey, the winner of the 2001 and 2002 Guy Fawkes Trophy. was also the winner of the 2025 edition. Multi winner over the years, Mark, was second and despite not starting Sunday's third race, Rory was third one point ahead of Paul.

Bembridge Illusion Guy Fawkes Trophy 2025 - photo © Mike Samuelson

No racing next weekend; team racing the one after (22-23 November).

Overall Results: