The Mick Thomas Trophy 24 October 2015

Twelve skippers and mates with 7 boats came to the starting line equalling the number in the 2014 race. We expected eight entries but sadly one had to scratch for health reasons. This was an enjoyable and exciting event which was partly due to the good humour of the participants but it doesn’t happen without excellent organisation. We were fortunate to have Allan Oxlade as Race Officer as he managed the challenging task of finishing and recording positions as each of the seven boats crossed the line, often very close together, brilliantly….. Unlike our usual one on one racing, this race requires all boats to start at the same time and regardless of any coming togethers hurtle towards the finish. Ray Hersee was inveigled into the starter’s role which he took to extremely well getting everyone away together in virtually all instances. We are enormously grateful to both of them. Another reason for being pleased to see Ray was that he carved and presented the beautiful shield to the Vane fleet for the event.

Our thanks also goes to Alex Kennaby who is fast becoming our official vane photographer. I am hoping to attach some pictures to this.

What makes this event different? Well, at the end to win you have to finish in the middle of the fleet which is not as easy as it might sound. Strategy is called for: The obvious winning scores would have been a 4^th position in every race. No one managed that. Another strategy was to try and achieve a full house of finishing positions – a 1^st, a 2^nd, a 3^rd and so on. No one achieved that either!

So who did achieve what? Mervyn Cook and his crew, Andy Fernie sailed really well but in spite of managing a 6^th and a 4th position, they were first overall with 19 points. Jacque Cook and crew Eric Meighen did manage 21 points overall, however this only included two 4^th positions and one 5^th. In 3^rd place were co-skippers Roy Scott and Chris Treagust who managed two 5^th places and two 4th places but over compensated with a 1^st, a 2^nd and a 3^rd position and gained 24 points. In 4^th place and the overall winner of the trophy with almost the perfect strategy was Mike Dann racing his latest design on its first outing. He too achieved a 1^st, 2^nd and a 3^rd position but also managed two 4ths, a 5^th and a 7^th position, a total of 26 points. Close with 27 points was Anthony Warren in 5^th place. He gained a 1^st, a 2^nd and two 3rds as well as a 5^th, 6^th and 7^th place. In 6^th place with 31points, Peter Fothergill and crew Paul Edwards were rather too successful in achieving lower places with three 5ths and two 6^th positions although they also gained a 1^st and a 3^rd place. The most consistent sailing was from John Storey, sailing the club boat for the first time. It did seem to be involved in a number of collisions which certainly slowed him down and in one instance, preventing him finishing. His 47 points consisted of two 6ths and five 7^th positions.

Seven boards – beats only and a reasonable amount of wind (although not very constant up the lake and with considerable wind shadow along the tree bank…..) contributed to a great morning’s sailing. A voluntary collection for the Rowans Hospice raised £21.00 in Mick’s memory.

Jacque Cook, Fleet Captain