Results / GKN Trophy

Thirty-one boats journeyed to contest the GKN trophy on Sunday 25th October. A forecast which had been promising all week totally bailed on us on Saturday, leaving a testing 4-8kts at its strongest. As we were rigging it was apparent that a further problem was that the forecast south westerly had not yet arrived, with what wind there was blowing from the east. All was not lost though, as when we launched this proceeded to die completely and gradually clock around as we drifted up to the starting area. This took quite some time!

PRO Bill Watson wisely kept the course boards down and the anchor up until the light and fickle breeze showed some semblance of stability. The race got underway at the first start after a postponement of about 30 minutes in around 3-4 kts. Pressure was more important than direction at this stage of the race, and those who went up the middle were in the pound seats at the windward mark. A large hole at the leeward mark put paid to some challengers for the lead, but local light weather gurus Steve and Gill Leney came through and took the bullet showing current Silver Tiller leaders Matt Biggs and John Hackett the way round. Matt and John's rival for this years Silver Tiller Nick Craig, crewed by Chloe Martin came in third - Nick came to this event needing to win so no pressure!

By the end of the first race the wind had settled down and strengthened to around 8 knots. The second start again got away cleanly, though a fairly dramatic shift to the left favoured those who started at the port end. Mike and Jayne Calvert - all the way from Axe - took the win in this race, with Dave Winder and Pippa Taylor in second. Andy Davis and Alex Warren, victims of the hole at the second mark in race 1, came in third. The Silver Tiller candidates Nick and Chloe and Matt and John were languishing in 8th and 9th respectively - Matt had one hand on the trophy.

Race three was held immediately afterwards and was subject to considerable start line disorder, not helped by the wind again toying with a shift to the east. There were quite a few victims of the black flag, the highest profile of these being Matt Biggs and John Hackett making their Silver Tiller position vulnerable once more. Nick Craig and Chloe Martin looked to making full advantage of this as they sailed into the lead, only to be passed by Andy Davis and Alex warren who proceeded to do a total horizon job and disappeared into the evening sunset to take the win. Nick and Chloe held onto second, and Steve and Gill Leney took third.

Andy Davis and Alex Warren took the win on count back from Steve and Gill Leney. Mike and Jayne Calvert came in third, again on count back from Nick Craig and Chloe Martin.

This result gives Matt Biggs and John Hackett the Silver Tiller - Congratulations!

Thanks to all the visitors, Bill Watson and Margaret Boyson in the committee boat, Keith and Brian Walker in the safety boat, Steve and Jayne Tatton in the galley and everyone else who helped run the event. Just a shame that the wind didn't show!

We look forward to seeing as many people as possible at the Barrel in a fortnight's time.

By Chris Martin