A fleet of 18 gathered for the Cartoon Trophy
weekend at Waldringfield,
four races over two days. Conditions were good throughout the
weekend, if
you don't mind a bit of rain, with force three winds most of the
time.
Jon and Charlotte Ibbotson led the first
race from start to finish showing
the solid form that has won them numerous events this year. They
were
chased by a pack from which Antony Gifford and Rich Bailey finally
emerged
to take second place, followed home by Bruce and Clare Johnson.
A rather
more eventful second race was again led by the Ibbotsons, pursued
by Tom
Stewart and Liz Ross. Coming from behind Gifford and Bailey caught
the
leaders and after a three way tussle broke through to lead and
win.
Stewart and Ross in second inexplicably dropped their rig over
the side at
this point, and shortly afterwards the Ibbotsons decided to have
a quick
swim.
On Sunday the first race saw an all new
leadership, Jonathan Brown and
Jane Jones broke away from fast improving Richard Williams and
Rebecca
Johnson, only to be caught by Tom Alexander and his crew in one
of the
older boats in the fleet. A close race was ultimately decided
in favour of
Brown and Jones, with Gifford and Bailey pulling through to 3rd
and the
Ibbotsons to fourth. The final and deciding race saw the two
form crews
return to the front of the fleet. Swopping places several times
it was
eventually Gifford and Bailey who pulled clear to win the race
and the
cartoon. As usual the differences in boatspeed amongst the new
designs was
negligable, on this occasion a Foolish narrowly defeating a Chapter.
!st Antony Gifford and Richard Bailey, 3431,
Aldeburgh YC
2nd Jon & Charlotte Ibbotons, 3445, Royal Harwich YC
3rd John Brown and Jane Jones, 3426, RHYC