Illusion racing continues at Bembridge Sailing Club
by Mike Samuelson 1 Nov 06:10 PST
31 October 2026
Late neap tides over the weekend meant that only normal racing on Saturday afternoon was programmed. In the event eighteen Illusions enjoyed a glorious autumnal day with lots of sun and a Force 3 Easterly breeze. With the sea conditions outside the harbour looking as though they would get lumpier as the afternoon went on, racing in the harbour definitely paid off.
With so many boats to launch and one of the cranes playing up there was a ten minute postponement to allow the crane operators time to make the start. After an excellent start in 10 knots of breeze, the majority of the fleet kept on starboard and headed for the St Helens shore. Owen Pay was first to round the windward mark and spreader.
Close behind were Xander Shaw and Jockey Wilson with Mark Downer and David Peerless some distance behind. Owen, Xander and Jockey maintained their positions during the second and final round and Mark pipped David to take fourth place.
A number of boats were very close to being OCS at the start of the second race; Mike Toogood managed to duck back but Mike Issaias was not so fortunate. Although the Race officers were unable to spot what had gone on at the pin end, Mark and Owen circled round to be on the safe side.
Jockey was well ahead of Xander and Oliver Morgan at the top end of the course and never looked like being caught. It was good to see Simon Birchenough in the top group; indeed at the end of the second round he had moved into third sandwiched between Xander and Oliver.
After another good start to the third race, and with Jockey again leading at the windward mark; he extended his lead so that at the end of the two round race he was well ahead of Oliver and Mark. Xander was third and Owen was fourth.
With the breeze veering more southerly as the fleet shaped up to start their fourth and final race, the AP flag came into play while Sea Breeze was re-located to compensate. Although poised for a General Recall, it was actually a clean start!
With the race extended to two and a half rounds, Jockey ended up winning but by only a boat length, after Mark had given him a good run for his money. There was then a large gap to Xander in third; Owen was fourth and David pipped Mike T on the final tack for fifth.
Lower down the fleet Simon and John Birchenough and Richard Coleman had a very close race, with Richard splitting the two brothers to take twelfth.
An excellent afternoon's racing. Although no prizes, Jockey was the overall winner with 3 points (after a discard); Xander was second with 7 points just ahead of Mark with eight points.
Next weekend its the Guy Fawkes Trophy. Early morning starts (09:30); hopefully this will not put people off, but as always, "the tide waiteth for no man (or woman)!"
Day's Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 10 | James Wilson | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 122 | Xander Shaw | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | 164 | Mark Downer | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | 160 | Owen Pay | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| 5 | 169 | Oliver Morgan | 12 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 14 |
| 6 | 140 | David Peerless | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 16 |
| 7 | 136 | Simon Birchenough | 8 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 21 |
| 8 | 166 | Jo Downer | 6 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 21 |
| 9 | 163 | Tim Lyle | 14 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| 10 | 142 | Mike Toogood | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 24 |
| 11 | 106 | Matt Solan | 7 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 28 |
| 12 | 152 | Mike Issaias | 8 | S | 11 | 14 | 33 |
| 13 | 27 | Andrew Eddy | 10 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 34 |
| 14 | 37 | John Birchenough | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 39 |
| 15 | 172 | Richard Coleman | 16 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 40 |
| 16 | 12 | Robin Ebsworth | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 43 |
| 17 | 91 | Anna Row | 17 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 45 |
| 18 | 80 | Mike Gumm | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 |