The Veterans Cup on Sunday September 24th was sailed in strong winds around 15mph with gusts over 20mph. After the morning’s Autumn Series races, the race officers, James Long and Carole Dixon were joined by Tricia Evison in the race box for the afternoon’s races and the course was kept the same as the morning’s races.
Six sailors lined up the start for the all-class Handicap Veteran’s Cup. The wind was slightly stronger at the line in the afternoon and all the sailors set off from the staggered line to the bend. Gary Adshead (OK 1998), Andrew Yuille (LN 446) and Dave Phillips (OK 2123) moved into the lead ahead of Peter Withrington (LN 442), Jerome Dreux sailing OK 2130 after the mainsheet block issue on his own boat in the morning and Richard Cartwright crewed by Ray Swinney in their cruising rigged Enterprise (E 22174). By the time they rounded the A buoy at the top of the course, Dave had moved into the lead and he led as they crossed the line at the end of the lap ahead of Gary, Andrew, Richard and Jerome. Peter trailed after getting caught by a gust as he reached the A buoy and being unable to jybe the boat and being forced up towards Andrews before he could turn back, he retired during the second lap.
Dave continued to lead going up the course, but as he rounded the D buoy on the return he capsized and had trouble getting the boat back up. Gary passed into the lead with Andrew chasing hard behind. Richard and Jerome were involved in a close battle and Dave latched on to the back of this contest as he got the boat righted, Jerome led the group as he crossed the line at the end of the second lap. Gary pulled out a bigger lead on the third lap when Andrew was caught by a gust at the dog leg and Dave got past both Richard and Jerome for third. Gary continued to lead through the fourth lap with Andrew holding the gap at just over a minute, Dave third, Richard fourth and Jerome fifth. The gaps remained static on the final lap and Gary won the race ahead of Andrew, Dave, Richard and Jerome. After Handicap adjustment, Andrew’s gap meant he won the race ahead of Gary.
Five sailors lined up for the deciding race of the Veteran’s Cup. Andrew and Gary made the best start with Dave chasing and taking a wide line in the middle of the river. Gary led at the A buoy and back at the line he had pulled out a small gap on Dave with Andrew third, Jerome fourth and Richard and Ray fifth. Dave closed the gap to Gary during the second lap and at the end of the lap they rounded the C buoy together. Andrew pulled in and retired at the end of the lap as his kicker had failed. Jerome had pulled clear of Richard in third. On the return leg on the third lap, Jerome got caught by a gust and capsized, he retired after having difficulty righting the boat. This left three tired sailors fighting the gusts, Gary and Dave were still closely battling for the lead at the end of the third lap, but Dave sneaked inside Gary at the C buoy at the end of the fourth lap to take the lead and he held it during the final lap to win the race with Gary second and Richard and Ray third.
Dave Phillips (OK 2123) leads Gary Adshead (OK 1998) in the second race of the 2023 CRSC Veteran’s Cup
The sailors packed their boats away and warmed up with a welcome cup of tea and a slice of cake whilst the results were calculated. Richard Cartwright crewed by Ray Swinney were winners of the Great Grand Master class. Andrew Yuille won the Grand Master class. The overall Veteran’s Cup and winner of the Master class was a close battle with both sailors finishing on the same points, but with a third and a first Dave Phillips won the trophy ahead of Gary with two seconds.