Bembridge Flying Dutchman Trophy Results
Alexandra
The race committee set the Flying Dutchman course outside Bembridge harbour on an SSE breeze averaging 7.8 knots, moving the windward marks to port and shortening legs to maintain scheduled start times after several late arrivals to the start area.
Event logistics and fleet composition
The three-day regatta ran under a mixture of light and fresh conditions, with launch and recovery staged from Bembridge slipways and outboard support positioned off Bembridge Outboards. Initial entries numbered twelve launches, but family commitments and weather forecasts saw the first day begin with just eleven boats on the line. Race management adjusted courses between races to keep beats as true as possible and to prevent excessively long runs when breeze direction backed slightly.
Weather, course adjustments and starting procedures
On the first day the committee opted for an external course due to the light SSE wind. Between races the windward mark was shifted left and brought inshore to shorten the course and produce a cleaner windward leg. Starts were generally clean, although several helms breached the line and were called OCS (over early), necessitating returns and recovery laps that affected their scoring. On the following day the breeze increased to about 15 knots, prompting a move back inside the harbour for safer roundings and quicker access to shore services.
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Notable incidents and equipment
- Two skippers, Mike Toogood and Alastair Speare-Cole, recorded OCS calls early in the event and were forced to re-cross the line.
- Tim Lyle retired from a race after discovering that his hull was taking on water; the team withdrew for repairs.
- Anna Row retired before a start with a jib furling issue, highlighting how even small rigging faults can remove a contender from the scoring loop.
Race-by-race highlights
Day 1 — Light airs, tactical inshore beats
After a close but clean opening start, the fleet split tacks on the way inshore where pressure was patchy. James “Jockey” Wilson led early rounds with John Birchenough shadowing him. By the leeward gate Birchenough held the advantage briefly, but Jockey reclaimed the lead on the long beat to windward and crossed the line a few boat lengths ahead. Mark Downer took a solid third, edging Monty Irwin.
Day 1 — Second and third races
Race two saw the committee shorten and square the beat; Jockey dominated the first two rounds of this three-round race, while Mark recovered from a poor start to finish strongly in third. In the third race Mark led from start to finish, with Jo Downer performing notably to take second, followed by Monty and Jockey in tight succession.
Day 2 — Fresh breeze, inside course
The Saturday morning breeze rose significantly, making an outside course impractical. After a short postponement to assemble the remaining boats, the race committee started in 15 knots. Mark Downer was imperious across the day: first to the windward marks in both races and extending leads on each run. Jockey held second throughout the heavier-air races with a close pack behind including Billy Clegg, Oliver Morgan and David Peerless.
Results summary and podium
Consistency paid: Mark Downer secured the trophy with four wins and two third places. James (Jockey) Wilson finished a close second on points and John Birchenough completed the podium in third. The regatta featured a mix of seasoned helms and promising younger sailors, providing close finishes and tactical lessons relevant to any charter skipper or amateur racer.
| Pos | Helm | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Downer | 164 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | James Wilson | 10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | John Birchenough | 37 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 35 |
| 4 | Mike Issaias | 152 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 37 |
| 5 | David Peerless | 140 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 6 | R | 40 |
| 6 | Monty Irwin | 147 | 4 | 4 | 3 | S | S | S | 49 |
| 7 | Oliver Morgan | 169 | S | S | S | 5 | 3 | 3 | 49 |
| 8 | Olly Laughton-Scott | 80 | S | S | S | 3 | 4 | 6 | 51 |
| 9 | Jo Downer | 166 | 6 | 6 | 2 | S | S | S | 52 |
| 10 | Tim Lyle | 163 | 5 | 5 | 6 | R | S | S | 54 |
| 11 | Mike Toogood | 142 | S | S | S | 4 | 9 | 5 | 56 |
| 12 | Richard Ambler | 156 | 8 | 8 | 5 | S | S | S | 59 |
| 13 | Will Lowe | 150 | 11 | 12 | 11 | S | S | 10 | 63 |
| 14 | Owen Pay | 160 | 10 | 2 | S | S | S | S | 69 |
| 14 | Billy Clegg | 40 | S | S | S | 6 | R | 6 | 69 |
| 16 | Alastair Speare-Cole | 135 | S | S | S | R | 5 | 8 | 70 |
| 17 | Hugh Doherty | 124 | S | 10 | 7 | S | S | S | 74 |
| 17 | Anna Row | 91 | S | S | S | 9 | 8 | S | 74 |
Performance analysis
Mark Downer’s string of four wins was built on fast upwind speed and clean mark roundings in both light and fresh conditions. Jockey’s starts and close-quarters strategy yielded multiple podiums, while Birchenough’s occasional high finishes were offset by two high scores on tougher beats. The event underscores the value of reliable boat preparation and quick tactical adjustments — lessons highly relevant to anyone chartering a racing-capable dinghy or planning a competitive sail charter weekend.
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