CLUBS & CLASSES
CLUBS
The season of iconic handicap events is coming to a close with the
conclusion of the SailJuice Winter Series. Paula Irish reportsDobson bags another Tiger win
TIM OLIN/SAILJUICE WINTER SERIESTIM OLINAlistair Goodwin steered his
LasertogloryattheOxford
Blue, the final of seven events
in this season’s GJW Direct
SailJuice Winter Series.
The breeze barely blew over
8 knots, suiting Goodwin’s
Laser, although in race one it
wasNickOrmanwhohelmed
his Phantom to handicap
victory ahead of Ian andGemma Dobson’s GP14 and
Charlie Sansom’s RS Aero 9.
Goodwin managed seventh
butthentheHavershamsailor
won race two on handicap
aheadofAndrewSnell,andBen
Flower in third. In the final race,
Goodwin again took corrected
time victory, this time ahead of
Lawrence Creaser’s Solo and the
Wayfarer of Andrew and TomWilson. In 11th, 12th and 13th
overall,RSAero9champion
Pete Barton just pipped RS Aero
7 world champion Steve
Cockerill, with Sansom a point
behind Cockerill. Goodwin’s
two race wins gave him the
overall prize with Creaser’s Solo
second, Snell's K1 third and the
Wilsons’ Wayfarer first
doublehander in fourth.Submit your event reports to [email protected]
Glory for Goodwin at the Oxford Blue
Ian Dobson and Richard Wagstaff claimed
victory in their Fireball at the Tiger Trophy on
Rutland Water, the sixth event in this season’s
GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series.
A lack of breeze prevented racing on the
Saturday, so Sunday’s usual pursuit race was
canned in favour of the three back-to-back
handicap races originally scheduled for the
previous day. A good northerly breeze with an
icy bite made it the chilliest Tiger in a few years.
Cold weather, however, never dampened the
spirits of Olympic silver medallist John
Merricks, in whose memory the event is held,
and 114 entrants braved the conditions.
Dobson and Wagstaff (Burwain) won overallby a single point from the next two, who were
tied for second overall. Dobson last won the
Tiger five years ago, when he raced a Fireball
crewed on that occasion by Sam Brearey.
Former Fireball world champion Tom Gillard
powered his 505, crewed by Harry Briddon, into
second overall, their victory in race two being
sufficient to break the tie and clinch the
runner-up spot ahead of father/daughter RS800
combo, Ralph and Sophie Singleton.
The Singletons (Datchet) were awarded the
Tony Everard Trophy for the lowest aggregate
score from all races, the only boat to score in
single figures with results of 2, (4), 2.
Ben Schooling’s two thirds in his Musto Skiffwere enough to earn fourth overall. Nick Robins
and Billy Vennis-Ozanne (RS800, HISC) won
the Youth Trophy while the Lady Tiger Trophy
went to Megan Ferguson and Bettine Harris
(420, Frensham Pond) and the Junior Trophy
(Under 16) to Dylan McPherson and Andrew
Sturt (420, Burnham)
Special mention went to Dave Hall
(Blackwater), having just turned 60, who with
Paul Constable has competed at every Tiger
Trophy since it began a quarter century ago.
This year’s Tiger Trophy was predominantly a
fast-boat affair, with the best of the slow
handicappers being Andy Couch who hiked his
Phantom to 11th overall.90 Yachts & Yachting Apr il 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk