Competitors at Waldringfield Cartoon Trophy over the weekend of the 27^th and 28^th of September were greeted by this season’s usual conditions. The fleet launched in the morning in a very light breeze that kept dying and filling in from different directions. This coupled with the spring tide resulted in the fleet being sent ashore for an early lunch without any attempt at a start. While many thought that was the end of the days sailing, the race officer’s predictions came true and a gently sea breeze filled in allowing two races to be sailed in the afternoon.

The light breezes seemed to suit Frances Gifford sailing with Guy Johnson and Mike Hoyle and Henry Johnson. They left the rest of the fleet standing shortly after the start of both races and enjoyed some good match racing throughout the afternoon. Fran and Guy got the best of the first race while Mike and Henry triumphed in the second. From where we were, the details of the battle were a little vague but it’s always ferocious when the Johnson siblings come together.

Sunday dawned with more breeze and significantly more forecast for later. The combination of more wind than we’ve been used to recently and the strong tide did result in a certain amount of chaos during the day. In the first race, John Meadowcroft and Helen Hunt were quick up the first beat to arrive first at the windward mark. The rest of the fleet arrived at much the same time which, coupled with the strong tide and some amount of disagreement on who should and shouldn’t have been where, resulted in the Tom Stewart and Liz Ross being left firmly anchored to the mark as the fleet departed. Jon Brown and Char Ibbotson managed to catch and overtake Meds downwind for a lead they held to the end. In the ensuing battle for 2^nd to 5^th, Meds managed to pick up a mooring dropping him down to 5^th and allowing Frances to take 2^nd with Tom in third. The racing in the pack was close but I’m not sure that Waldringfield virgins Graham and Zoe were ever sure where on the river they should be.

By the start of the last race, it was blowing fairly hard and concentration was required pre start to avoid capsized and out of control lasers and RS400’s. John and Helen got to the windward mark first with Jon and Char close behind. The rest of the fleet arrived together resulting in Bruce and Rebecca Johnson being the first swimmers of the race. Jon and Char got past Meds and Helen downwind to build a lead that they managed to extend throughout the race. They were assisted in this by the close bunch of Tom, Frances, Graham and Mike who caught Meds and generally made life difficult for each other. As the breeze built, the lack of strong wind practice showed through with boat handling ‘moments’ throughout the fleet. As the race progressed the big boys did manage to get away with Meds finishing in a solid second and Tom in third.

Jon and Char were certainly significantly quicker in the stronger breeze than they have been so far this season. However the jury’s still out on Bim Daser’s new design and Jon’s massively over rigged Jackson mast, apparently getting past Meds down wind doesn’t qualify you for a boatspeed award.

This was enough for Jon and Char to win the event with Fran and assortment of crews in second. There was a three-way tie for third between Mike and Henry, Meds sailing with a mixture of Hunts and Tom and Liz, which would have been broken in that order. However Waldringfield decided no to break it and awarded prizes all round.

Jon Brown and Char Ibbotson

Francis Gifford and Guy Johnson/

Mike Hoyle and Henry Johnson

John Meadowcroft and Helen/? Hunt

Tom Stewart and Liz Ross