Toucan Trophy

Toucan Trophy
24th July 2016

Race 1
At the start of the first of three races this afternoon, fourteen boats have taken to the water.  In the Louis Vuitton racing in Portsmouth this weekend not many of the boats appeared to be line shy as they are here, though one thing both races have in common, is that the word STARBOARD is being banded about quite a lot.

The honours of the first capsize in the race go to Mr. Harbord just after the start of the race.  As the boats round SP1 it is Laser 165710 in the lead followed by the Laser Radial, the two Laser 2000 simultaneously raise their blue kites as they are heading off towards SP2. However, Laser 2000 2041 has moved up into second place, the Laser Radial is at the moment holding on to its third place. Laser 2000 22175 has been passed by the Contender but not for long as he has regained his place ahead of the Contender but once again this is short lived as putting in another tack has lost him places and he is down in fifth place.

On rounding SP2, Laser 165710 still maintains the lead slot but in close pursuit is the Laser 2000 2041 as they both head for SP3 and then on to the Transit Pole to start the second leg of the course.  However, coming up in on the inside of both of them in a burst of speed is the Contender.

Having gone round the Transit Pole and heading up towards the next mark of the Course SP1 is the Laser, then it is the Laser 2000 closely followed by the Contender in third, the second Laser 2000 22175 is still holding off the Lasers to remain in fourth slot, the RS Aero has moved ahead of Laser 208321.

The breeze appears to be quite flukey and gusts can be seen whipping across the water. At SP2 Laser 165710 has quite a considerable lead on the rest of the fleet and as the Laser rounds the SP3 the Race Officer has sounded the shortened course signal and the flag is raised also. With the Laser crossing the line in first place, there is a flurry of activity on the water as the rest of the fleet are approaching the finish line.

Results
1st Laser 165710 Colin Smith
2nd Laser 4.7 154831 Matthew Bradfield
3rd Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton

Race Two
The starting sequence for the second race is well underway, the boats are all jostling for position on the start line, once again, Laser 165710 manages to break away and take an early lead but his nearest challenger is the Contender but coming up fast is the Laser 2000 2041, there has been a change of leadership and now it is the Contender who is ahead of the fleet. At SP2 the Laser and the Contender have both gone round the mark almost neck and neck but the Contender once again reestablishes its lead on its way down to SP3.

On the way to the Transit Pole (TP) the Contender is still maintaining its lead over the other boats and in second is the Laser 2000 2041 coming up behind in almost follow my lead fashion are Laser 165710, Laser 161757, then Laser 182262. 
Once again this race has to be shortened as there is a third and final race to get in before the end of the afternoon.

Results
1st Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
2nd Laser 165710 Colin Smith
3rd Contender 701 Steve Owen.

Race Three
On the start line of the third and final race of the afternoon, there is a much reduced fleet sitting on or about the start line.  Once again the fleet appear to be a little line shy.  The Contender has taken an early lead whilst sailing down to SP1; however the Laser 2000 2041 appears to have sailed the best line and this course of action has seen the Laser 2000 round the mark first followed by Laser 165710, then the second Laser 2000, Laser 161767, then the Contender.

At SP2, the gybe mark of the course, the Laser 2000 pulls away from Laser 165710. Laser 2000 22175 is making ground on the Laser and does indeed catch up and nearly sails past but has to put in a gybe in order to round SP3. the Laser and Contender who are now almost neck and neck as they approach SP3 are now in second and third place respectively.

As the boats are sailing down towards TP, the Laser 2000 still has the lead, the Contender has passed the Laser and caught up with the Laser 2000 so they are neck and neck as they head toward TP, the Laser 2000 is just ahead of the Contender and finishes the race in first place. The Contender is second to cross the line followed by the Laser 165710. However, the results are worked out on the handicap of each boat.

Results
1st Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
2nd Laser 165710 Colin Smith
3rd Laser 161767 Allan McNeil

Overall Winner of the Toucan Trophy  - Brian and Maria Golton

Report and photographs by Liz Smith