TRAFALGAR TROPHY
 
A total of  SIX  rounds will be sailed, with SIX races being sailed EACH week, best FOUR  rounds to count.    The same model yacht must be sailed in each round.  
 
ROUND ONE

The pacemaker in this first round was Neil Thornton, with all six first places, a skipper who feels that the trophy should not yet again be a burden for Brian Hartley to have to lug around. The weather was fine and cold with a strong  westerly wind, which so swirled and gusted, that half the fleet retired with damage before the end of the six races, even though most had been changed down to No 2 suits (not Neil, who stayed with No 1). Roger Monks took second place and Vic Meek had one of his best days – with three third positions, and third overall. We were pleased to see Tony Ingle visiting after his recent illness.

ROUND TWO

On an overcast but not chilly day, the forecast rain kept off, but so did the promised south-easterly wind – at times the sailing scene was static. Only six yachts were on the water for this round.  Roger Monks couldn’t persuade his electronics to behave (interference?), and nobly stayed on as Officer of the Day.  Neil Thornton’s momentum was stopped only after he had taken five first places, when Brian Hartley won the last race, adding to his own three second places. Andy Kirkup secured two second places, putting himself in third position for this round, behind Brian Hartley.  However, congratulations must go to Vic Meek, who took fourth position in this round that, with last week’s performance, places him in second position for overall points for the trophy, behind Neil Thornton. The subsequent non-trophy racing included the proposed weekly “round all the buoys” course, in salute to much-missed Bob Underwood.

ROUND THREE

The sunshine of a fine Indian Summer day almost brought a smile to the face of Neil Thornton, who consolidated his lead for the Trophy with three first places, two second and one third place.  Ten skippers made the best of a very light south-westerly.  Brian Hartley won the last race (again), backed by three second and one third places.  Roger Monks was the next highest scorer, with a win in the first race, one second and two third places, his electronics being free from interference this week.  Andy Kirkup won the Second race, but yielded fourth position for the day to Tony Watts.  At this half-way point in the series, Neil Thornton is in commanding position, chased by Brian Hartley, but Vic Meek has yielded third position to Roger Monks.  In the post-coital fun racing, Steve Booth convincingly won the “Round All The Buoys” race – the most challenging course of the day.

ROUND FOUR

Congratulations to Neil Thornton on his now unassailable first position for the Trophy, winning the first four races in this round.  Brian Hartley again deployed his new tactic of winning only the last race.  He uncharacteristically came way last in an early race, which may have had something to do with an international one metre-long strand of weed as stowaway, a fate not shared by anyone else.  With his two second places he’s now only 11 points ahead of Roger Monks in a tussle for Trophy runner-up, Roger also winning one race, two second places and one third place.  Tony Watts came second in the first race.  As well as coming second in the second race, Dave Johnston also took three third places, the others were taken by Andy Kirkup and Tony Friston.  On this overcast day, when the promised drizzle kept away, nine skippers made the best of a very light south-easterly. Well done, Neil !

ROUND FIVE

As they say, "It's all over bar the shouting"  Congratulations must go to Neil Thornton on his five wins in a row in this series.  A light south-westerly breeze today with a few clouds and a smattering of sunshine.  Winners today were Neil with three, Tony Watts, David Johnston and Brian Hartley with one each.  Our Captain and Vic Meek were not present today, they unfortunately went down with the nasty cough, and other associated things that go with it, so it is hoped they will be fully recovered by the weekend, to take part in Round 1 of the MYA Northern District Winter Series.  Don't forget to order your Steak Slices & Peas for your lunch, which will be cooked by our "New Chef in The Galley" Ian Yates, ably supported by "Secretary Sue". 

ROUND SIX

The 10 skippers in the final round of the series faced the same windless conditions as Sunday’s MYA event, except that it was less misty. The same shallow triangular one-lap course was adopted, and again much depended on the skill of keeping one’s boat moving.  We were pleased to welcome late-comers to the Series - Harry Sissling and Jeff Kenworthy.  Neil Thornton won the first race, with Tony Watts second.  However, Brian Hartley returned to form with 4 wins, thrice leaving Dave Johnston in second place, and once with Neil Thornton in second place.  Dave won the other race, putting Brian as second.  The day finished with fun racing on the same course, when the sun came out, and we were treated to a light breeze!  Final results for the Trophy were already secured, first by Neil Thornton, with Brian Hartley second and Roger Monks third. Congratulations to all.

  Trafalgar Trophy 2011
   
  Rounds in Series 6      
  No. Best Scores 4      
                BEST 4 TOTAL POINTS
    POINTS IN ROUND
POSITION SKIPPER 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Neil Thornton 100 100 100 100 100 80 400
2 Brian Hartley 36 85 90 66 70 100 345
3 Roger Monks 87 10 80 89   40 296
4 Dave Johnston     20 78 85 90 273
5 Tony Watts 23 40 70 55 55 60 240
6 Andy Kirkup 10 70 60 44 40 50 224
7 Steve Booth 61   40 21 25 70 196
8 Vic Meek 74 55 30       159
9 Tom Willgoss 49   50 10 10   119
10 Tony Friston   25 10 33   20 88
11 Jeff Kenworthy           30 30
12 Harry Sissling           10 10

Tonics Triumph in the Trafalgar Trophy - Well done Brian  

 

  Trafalgar Trophy  2010
   
  Rounds in Series 6      
  Best Scores to Count 4      
                BEST 4 TOTAL POINTS
    POINTS IN ROUND
POSITION SKIPPER 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Brian Hartley 84 100 100 75 100 100 400
2 Neil Thornton 100 89 92 100 80 90 382
3 David Johnston 43 78 84 92 90 30 344
4 Tony Watts 92 66 75 84 60 70 321
5 Tony Friston 67   35 59 70 50 246
6 Andy Kirkup 51 33 67 43 20 40 201
7 Vic Meek   44 43 35 50 60 197
8 Steve Booth 10 55 59 26 40 10 180
9 Tom Willgoss 59   51 51     161
10 Roger Ellison 75   18 67     160
11 Tony Ingle     26 18 30 80 154
12 Bob Underwood 18 10 10 10 10 20 58
13 Jeff Kenworthy 26 21         47
14 Roger Monks 35           35