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

Report by our new Yacht Captain - Brian (Jammy) Hartley

This year we started the Series on the anniversary of The Battle of Trafalgar, with brilliant sunshine and a VERY flukey F4 gusting F5.

The first broadsides fired and England expects ................ Roger won the first race!.

Race 2 I managed to just beat Buzz (Neil Thornton who is competing in his first series ). Race 3 & 4 saw Tony Friston chasing Roger to very close finish's, Tony Watts just couldn't get any drive with his boat and after the racing discovered that the shrouds had become unbalanced which put a bad kink in mast.

A grand Battle was had by all !! .................... to be cont:

ROUND TWO

Brr'r.... the second round was sailed in a fresh N - NW breeze, bright sunshine but VERY cold, especially for Dave who had just returned from his holiday in Tenerife.

We had to sail a small triangular course to the starboard side of the lake, but even this course had quite few wind shadows which tested our skills.

Roger had a few problems with his boat this week, and Dave, despite the cold, clocked up two seconds and two thirds, well done Dave. Tony Friston is the man to watch now, with three seconds this week to add to his score line. Steve made good progress in the last two races, and after a long chat with Neil about sail trim, we will be expecting his boat to lead the fleet next week.

As we all packed up, the weather changed to sleet and snow, but we all wished Roger Bon Voyage on his trip to New Zealand for a month. ( Lucky dog )

Don't forget next Sunday is the first round of the Northern District Winter Series which will be held at Carnaby Lake, briefing at 09.45hrs, first race 10.00hrs

Please let Fozzie know if you will be there A.S.A.P. as he needs to sort out the pies & peas for lunch.

ROUND THREE

Today was grey and damp with only a very light NE breeze, making course setting a little difficult, but we sailed a small triangular course on the port side of the lake. I think we all now know what it must be like to sail in the "DOLDRUMS" because at times we all just drifted around waiting for that "lucky puff" to break away from the fleet, even so it produced one or two very close finishes. Despite the light airs it was definitely a "Tonic" day, John scored a win and 3 seconds, Dave ,Tom, and Tony Watts battled it out for seconds and thirds, Tony Friston didn't fair quite so well this week but next week it may be a different story!

ROUND FOUR

We held two minutes silence on Armistice Day in remembrance for the many that gave their lives in both World Wars and the current conflicts.

We then started racing in a strong westerly F4 gusting F6 sailing the course used on Sunday. Only five skippers this week ...... it must be the weather!

Steve had to opt out because of gear failure, so he acted as O/D, and the rest of the skippers charged round the course trying hard to stop the boats from behaving like a submarine. Tony Watts had some fun, and notched up two wins and two seconds, well done Tony, Dave had a few problems with rudder control, but was soon repaired and scored a win and a second.

John just missed a couple of wins but scored a second and four thirds, come on you "Tonics". Two heats to go and as they say it's "not over until the fat lady sings "

ROUND FIVE

Bright sunshine with a Northerly breeze covering just a small part of the pond made choosing a decent course very difficult, leaving all of the skippers looking for that "lucky" puff to make any good progress.

Tonic conditions again, with John winning the first and third race, Dave won race four, and three seconds to add to his score. It looks as if next week should bring some tight competition between David, Tony Watts and John, as the scores are very close for second and third place. Keep your powder dry boys until next week !

ROUND SIX

After the gun smoke had cleared, and the decks washed down, the Battle of Trafalgar was concluded! After eleven starters, only seven "hardy souls" sailed for four or more of the series, and it was tough going with some really cold weather, and very odd Northerly winds. Victory and first place was claimed by yours truly and hard won second place went to John Foster with well deserved third taken by Dave Johnson by just three points from Tony Watts.

The next series FROSTBITE will commence on Tuesday 13th January 2009 when we will be able to welcome back Roger, and look forward to seeing two new boats on the water, Dave's "Nimbus" and Neil's "Own Design" so are they the future leaders of the fleet?

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Well done Brian