The Zanen Trophy is for the annual long distance race with the Redwings & One-Designs starting together and the final finishing order decided on a mysterious handicapping system that Mike Samuelson devised many years ago!
Scheduled for last Saturday, this year’s race was a bit of a non-event in that the breeze got up after lunch and although at least six Redwings left the harbour and headed towards Drum where Sea Breeze was running the J70 Regatta, all wisely decided that it was blowing too hard to race. This left three One-Designs, with small sails, to battle it out between themselves for the trophy.
After a reasonable start, they headed to the J70s inflatable windward mark and then Janson, Pepe, Janson and finished at Garland. Although pushed initially by Hugh Doherty in No 10, Jos Coad in No 8 sailing three up ended up the easy winner; one place better than last year. Susie & Syd Beart in No 5 retired after Janson and headed back to Under Tyne when they had problems with their mainsheet.
On Sunday, seven Redwings had a glorious race with testing beats and runs. After a very close start (don’t study the video too closely!) the fleet split tacks as they headed to the J70 windward mark between Garland & Pepe.
Youtube Redwing start on Sunday
They then had a longish run to Ruthven and an excellent beat back to the windward inflatable by which time James Tate in Rosetta (4), Hugh Tidbury in Enigma (38) & Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence (41) had established themselves as the leading group. However on the run back to Ruthven and the final beat to the finish at Garland, Philip Bown helming Redwing (21) made up a lot of ground and Rosetta slipped back. After some very close racing on the final beat, Enigma finished inches ahead of Redwing with Quintessence a close third.
The four One-Designs meanwhile had a slightly shorter course (Janson instead of Ruthven) but an equally exciting race and at the finish No 1, helmed by Simon Allocca pipped Tim Cottrell in No 11 on the line. No 4, helmed by John Suffield sailing single handed was third.
Youtube One-Design start on Sunday
Redwing Results 21st July
BODA Results 20th July (Zanen Trophy)
BODA Results 21st July
Photographs by Mike Samuelson