IOM Unicorn Trophy Open Meeting and Met & Southern Round 1 Report
Report on the IOM Unicorn Trophy Open Meeting and Met & Southern Round1
5th February 2023 Chipstead SC – Radio Sailing
Thank you to all the participants for turning up at Chipstead on such a cool but dry and sunny Sunday morning to contest the IOM Unicorn trophy. This is also the first IOM open meeting in the 2023 Met & Southern district championship.
At eight AM the breeze was very light and from the north, but the sun was beaming down with the promise of a nice day ahead.
The competitors began to arrive and register whilst the race team setup for the day. Some sailors took advantage of the large clubhouse to rig their boats inside in the warm.
At 09:00 when the rescue boat ventured out to lay a course the breeze had filled in and had veered to the northeast.
A short briefing was held welcoming the visitors and outlining the control area, course and any H&S aspects. There were eighteen competitors allowing for the event to be sailed in one fleet.
Racing commenced at 10:05. Roy O’Donnell was quick off the line to sail into a small lead over Craig Richards who was sailing his own design, Chimera. Peter Stollery sailing his Isotonic made ground quickly after the start. Nigel Barrow was also making good progress a few metres further back. On the second windward leg, Roy sailed into a light patch, which his pursuers avoided and lost ground to them. At a closely contested finish it was Craig followed by Peter and Nigel with Roy taking a well deserved fourth.
Craig Richards quickly followed his race one success by taking race two in style. He was followed by David Hope sailing his new 3D Printed Alioth and Hugh Watson with his Britpop.
Peter took races three and four but was pursued all the way by Craig in both races. Nigel was having a consistent morning with a third place in race three.
Race five saw Craig back to winning ways followed by Nigel and Hugh.
The wind was veering to the right during each race, which necessitated the course being rotated between races.
Race six saw Vernon Appleton quick of the line to sail into a little lead which he tactically held to the finish. Peter and Craig chased hard but could only follow him home. Julia Hancock sailed a consistent race to finish fourth.
Race seven was back to Craig getting a good start and leading from Oliver Stollery who was sailing his dad’s Britpop. Peter battled through after a misjudged start to be chasing Oliver. This was to no avail, as Craig maintained his lead over Oliver who also covered his dad to the finish for a great second place.
Lunch was taken at 12:35. The fleet adjourned to the clubhouse where Peter Crisp served a delicious hot chicken stew.
At the break Craig was leading with eight points from Peter on fourteen and Nigel on twenty nine.
Racing resumed at 13:40 with the course completely re-laid to match the breeze which had moved further to the right.
Peter refreshed by lunch was quick to take races eight and nine with Vernon behind him in both races.
David Adam sailed well to win race ten, being chased closely all the way by Julia and Peter.
Peter took control of the event by winning the next four races. Craig had two second places, but then encountered winch issues which saw him side lined for the last three races whilst he tried to sort the issue out.
The last race of the day started at 15:25. Vernon made a great start and lead at the windward mark. He held this place to the finish a few meters ahead of Dorian Crease and Nick Charles with Peter a little further back in fourth.
As the race team packed up, sailors put their boats back into cars, race results were entered and calculated, hot drinks and cake was served by Jayne Allinson in warmth of the clubhouse.
The Open Meeting prize giving distributed:
Julia won the prize for first lady, and only missed out on sixth place on count back.
Oliver Stollery won the prize for first Junior. He is steadily improving in all areas of racing around the course.
Nathan Stollery took the award for best race team helper. Can only hope he did not eat all the sweets on the way home.
Colin Honour won first Chipstead SC Radio Sailing club boat Trophy.
A bottle of wine was also presented to the first six places
A word of thanks was given by Peter for the great day and his hope that he would be back at Chipstead for more events in the future.
Thanks go to all those who helped, Chris Heath for his assistance at registration. Stuart Ord-Hume for efforts in keeping the course aligned to the wind and for his photographs. Rob Owen for observing and helping keep the course aligned to the breeze.
Well done Peter, his ability to sense a small wind shift and the clear the fleet is impressive.
Dave Allinson
Chipstead SC – Radio Lead
The full results can be seen here:-
Worksheet in IOM Unicorn Open and Met and Southern R-1 Report 2023
