This annual Christmas event was again a great success with 15 starts for both Marblehead and the ‘small boat’ fleet with DF 95s and BOTTLE boats racing together.
A light southerly breeze blowing straight down the lake all day allowed a long windward leeward course, which gave good close racing in both fleets.
In the Marblehead fleet there were five different winners and in the opening race Rob Vice, sailing his modified UP, put down his challenge by winning it, with his son CJ sailing a GRUNGE second. In Race 2 CJ was second again, but this time to Peter Stollery sailing his UP. These two winners then won in alternate races until the pattern was broken by David Cole sailing a GRUNGE, winning Race 6 and then by CJ winning Races 7 & 9, only interrupted by Rob taking Race 8.
The Brass Monkey traditional lunch break included mulled wine and mince pies and lots of chat, before returning to racing 40 minutes later. The scores were close at the top of the lunchtime leaderboard with CJ scoring 18 points having had a very consistent morning, 1 point ahead of his dad and 6 points ahead of Peter. It was a different story in the ‘small boat’ fleet where Alan Viney dominated by winning all the morning races.
A win for CJ in Race 10 was followed by a win for Martin Crysell sailing a PRIME NUMBER. Young Oliver Stollery sailing his dad’s old UPROAR was delighted to have beaten him in those two races. However, this didn’t last and Peter won both Races 12 and 13 before letting Rob win Race 14 and Martin win the final race.
This event was good at bringing together youngsters from two model yachting families sailing against their dads. It was a real delight to welcome back CJ after a long break whilst studying and young Nathan, who hadn’t sailed for two and a half years, but still won Race 14 in the smaller fleet.
As this was the finale of the 2021 GAMES there was absolutely no doubt about the winner of the Midgley Mug Trophy, as by winning this event Rob had also won the series by a clear margin of 81 points from Peter. At the presentation Rob thanked the Guildford team of Roger and Judith for running the event, which he said was “clearly enjoyed by everyone.”
Marblehead results
1st Rob Vice Guildford UP 24 points,
Winner of the Brass Monkey & Midgley Mug
2nd CJ Vice Guildford GRUNGE 31
3rd Peter Stollery Guildford UP 38
4th Martin Crysell Guildford PRIME NUMBER 52
5th David Cole Hampton Court GRUNGE 57
6th Oliver Stollery Guildford UPROAR 66
7th Graham Hetem Datchet QUARK 73
8th Charles Wand Tetley Guildford UPROAR 92
Small boat results
1st Alan Viney Guildford DF95 14,
Winner of the Brass Monkey for DFs
2nd Leen Buurman Hampton Court DF95 29
3rd John Turnbull Woking DF95 36
4th Nathan Stollery Guildford BOTTLE boat 56,
Winner of the Brass Monkey for BOTTLE boats
5th Keith Parrott Frensham RSG BOTTLE boat 7
