Sore heads on Sunday

The OK fleet assembled at Walderingfield SC for the Cartoon Trophy last weekend

Using a borrowed boat, assembled just hours before the first race, Ian Harris won the 2007 Giles Cartoon Trophy at Waldringfield Sailing Club over the weekend of 29-30 September.

Saturday brought great racing conditions with a shifty eight to 12 knot breeze and a high spring tide. After a messy and crowded first mark rounding, Jon Fish took the lead and led the first race to the finish. Harris was a solid second until tragedy struck on the final run, when he nearly spun out – twice - before recovering to finish third. Gybe talking was a common theme that evening.

Fish looked set to repeat his first race victory in race two taking an early lead from the pack. However Robert Deaves took the lead up the second tricky beat and stretched out a lead along with Harris just behind. Terry Gibb had showed up with an old favourite and surprised everyone with his downwind speed. Crossing the club line for the second lap, he caught Fish on port and a crash tack left Fish in the drink right on the line. Robert Deaves led away from the chaos but it was Harris who took the higher course and rounded the uptide windward mark with a useful lead. Harris was never really troubled for the race win with Gibb overhauling Deaves on the final beat for second.

Saturday’s night’s social event was simply a matter of staying alive. Dan Ager proved he was more than an old woman by leading the way through the all night drinking session. However, the night fever and spirits paid its toll by first light, as several faces were absent from the tea queue at the clubhouse on Sunday morning. As luck would have it, though, an overnight wind of change brought a flat calm and a sunny sky, and after three hours of waiting, an abandonment and an early prizegiving ensued. So Harris wins again and slunk back to the west country with his due rewards.

Results:

1-Ian Harris
2-Jon Fish
3-Robert Deaves
4-Terry Gibb
5-Luke Farthing
6-Tim O’Leary
7-Simon Shaw
8-Gavin Waldron