Swans rule the lake at 8.45am...but change is soon to come.
The wind is checked and clouds observed before the course is set.
Lots of planning goes into the placing of the buoys...even if Geoff and David seem to opposing options......
then wait for the swans to move
After that they are checked with a sail boat.............
Once placed the buoys are checked with a sailing boat and moved by dinghy.....
even a few feet at the start line............ and between races if the wind veers
by 9am the onshore preparation is underway.
everything comes out of the back of the car.....
and lots of tinkering begins
lots and lots
of fine tuning
124 in preparation
later arrivals have to get a move on...............
wellies are the order of the day, so skippers are prepared as well as boats
all ready and the course prepared its time.....
to put out the red carpet and launch the boats
approaching the start 5 seconds
almost there
ALL CLEAR is called
53 takes a slight lead
has he found a better wind?
now he's way ahead...or is it all about what's under his hat?
The official race report follows
Doug Tomlinon Vase, 2002T 4 and final series positions
With a forecast of SE at 9 mph veering to SSE at 3 mph and likelihood of rain, it looked like a not so good day at Dovercourt.
We never saw 9 mph though the direction was about right and it did veer a little as it lightened but then it backed to almost northerly for the last few races.
Fortunately there was no rain at all.
This is quite a contrast to the last few years when the conditions have been at the other end of the spectrum.
Race Officer David Kerridge set a simple triangle and sausage course using the full length of the lake with the start at the narrow end and the finish at the other end.
So it was a long course and took some considerable time when the winds went very light.
However that gave some chance of a recovery if mistakes were made.
It turned out to be a GB day!
Graham's benefit or Graham's boats; as you prefer!
All the boats were to Graham's designs with him sailing the original 1988 Renaissance though it has been modified a couple of times.
Rick and I were sailing the first two moulded Rococos from 1999 while Robin had a planked 'near Rococo' from 2003.
Peter had a Ravenna from about 2000 thought I can't be sure as it's the only one that hasn't been through my hands!
The results show the 'benefit' side as Graham won all but two of the 11 races and usually by quite a margin.
I'm not sure how Rick managed to beat him ( I was too far behind) and Terry tried once or twice too.
With Graham out in front, the rest of us had our own private battles which added to the pleasure.
There were a few incidents and all were exonerated by penalty turns so there was no need for paperwork or juries.
Not that there was no 'discussion' about some of the points!
David was assisted by Malcolm Button with the scoring, and Geoff Earle, Jon Alexander, Mike Collins and Geoff Catchpole how did the observing and finishing line between them.
Position Skipper Sail # Club/City Hull Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1 Graham Bantock 53 Chelmsford RYC Renaissance 9.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 2.0
2 Terry Burton 76 Broads RYC Rococo 23.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 5.0 2.0 5.0 2.0 3.0
3 Rick Buxton 41 Broads RYC Rococo 27.0 5.0 5.0 3.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 6.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 1.0
4 Henry Farley 96 Lee Valley MYC Rococo 32.0 2.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 3.0 5.0 4.0
5 Peter Mullins 24 Broads RYC Ravenna 37.0 4.0 6.0 4.0 6.0 2.0 5.0 2.0 6.0 4.0 4.0 7.0
6 Robin Bloyce 124 Harwich Dovercourt M.B.C. Rococo 44.0 6.0 3.0 6.0 3.0 6.0 6.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 5.0
As the final 2010 round of the 2002 trophy Series it made little difference to the outcome with Rick maintaining his position at the top.
It is good to have a new winner as this is the first time Rick has finished at the top though he has been close before.
Terry's second place today enabled him to climb above Peter and I but was not enough to pip George for second place overall.
As well as the folks mentioned above there have been others throughout the season who have given up their time so that we may sail.
We are indebted to them all.
Position Skipper Sail # Club/City Hull Score
1 Graham Bantock 53 Chelmsford RYC Renaissance 9.0
2 Terry Burton 76 Broads RYC Rococo 23.0
3 Rick Buxton 41 Broads RYC Rococo 27.0
4 Henry Farley 96 Lee Valley MYC Rococo 32.0
5 Peter Mullins 24 Broads RYC Ravenna 37.0
6 Robin Bloyce 124 Harwich Dovercourt M.B.C. Rococo 44.0
As the final 2010 round of the 2002 trophy Series it made little difference to the outcome with Rick maintaining his position at the top.
It is good to have a new winner as this is the first time Rick has finished at the top though he has been close before.
Terry's second place today enabled him to climb above Peter and I but was not enough to pip George for second place overall.
As well as the folks mentioned above there have been others throughout the season who have given up their time so that we may sail.
We are indebted to them all.
2002 TROPHY SERIES - FINAL POSITIONS FOR 2010
POSITION SKIPPER CLUB
1 Richard Buxton Broads
2 George Beacroft Chelmsford
3 Terry Burton Broads
4 Henry Farley Lee Valley
5 Peter Mullins Broads
6 Mark Holt Broads
Henry Farley.
Photos Geoff Catchpole