Army Dinghy Racing - Lagos TrophyJoin the ASA Today

Results from the Lagos Trophy at AISTC(S) Wed 10th and Thu 11th Oct 2012

The Lagos Trophy is held annually and is contested between the various Regiments and Corps in three boat Team Racing (Laser 2000).

Capitalising on last year’s success, this year the following teams turned up for four days of team training and racing:

• AGC (A
• AGC (B)
• AAC
• REME
• Combat Arms
• Royal Signals
• The RLC had 3 guys but couldn’t get a full team for the championship so had to retire at the last minute

Monday 08th and Tuesday 09th Oct were training days where many Teams got back into the Laser 2000 and honed their sailing skills and team tactics. Some just honed their latent sailing skills after being out of sailing.

The regatta started on Wednesday morning with a team brief by the Race Officer (Clive Grant) and Umpires (David and Tricia) and the day consisted of round robins, in one pool everyone sailing against everyone else and we did this twice.

The first day was perfect, sunshine, a good breeze and a neap tide in Thorney Channel and the end of day results were:

• Royal Signals - 10 wins
• Combat Arms - 8 wins
• REME - 6 wins
• AAC - 4 wins
• AGC(A) - 2 wins
• AGC(B) - 0 wins

The team captains decided to split into two leagues for Day 2 of the Championship, this would give the 3rd and 4th place sailing against each other in a best of 5 competition and the 1st and 2nd place doing the same.

So day 2 saw the AGC versus the REME in a best of 5 event and the Royal Signals against the Combat Arms, again in a best of 5 event.

The Teams retired to the ASA TISC Bar and enjoyed the food that Julie and Deano from ASA TISC had prepared for us, chilli and jacket potato was very welcome after a full days racing, not to mention the cool beer.

Day 2 started at 0900 hours, straight on the water for the start of 3 races back to back between the AGC(A) and the REME, the weather was wet and the winds were light, but as we set sail the rain stopped and the wind increased slightly.
The first race was won by the AGC(A) and the second and third by the REME, so after 3 races it was neck and neck between 3rd and 4th place.

The second series of races started between the Combat Arms and the Royal Signals, and after 3 races the Royal Signals lead by 3 wins to Nil, but there was some close team racing and it could have gone either way in a couple of the races.

After a short break the REME and the AGC(S) sailed a further 2 races where the REME won and secured 3rd place, sadly the AGC(A) settled for 4th place after some really close races.

The final 2 races between the Royal Signals and the Combat Arms produced some excellent team racing, and again, the strength of the Royal Signals Team won the day and they won the last 2 races so secured 1st place, leaving the Combat Arms in 2nd.

So the final results were:

• 6th - AGC(B)
• 5th - AAC
• 4th - AGC(A)
• 3rd - REME
• 2nd - Combat Arms
• 1st - Royal Signals

Thanks must be said to the Umpires, David and Tricia, they kept the racing under control and David ensured that there was always rough water to sail in!

Julie and Deano from ASA TISC, thank you for opening the bar and also the lovely food on both days, a warming chilli and jacket potato after day 1 racing, and a sausages in a roll after day 2, lovely, thank you.

To AISTC(S) for all the boats, safetyboats and race marks, thanks for all the preparation.

Mark Langhorne the shore side admin and scorer.

Finally, but certainly not last, to the teams who entered, you certainly made the championship enjoyable, you all sailed well and the organisers hope that you enjoyed yourselves and hopefully we will see you back next year. We also select the Army Team from the Lagos Trophy so hopefully the Army Team Captain will be in touch soon to check your availability for the Victory Trophy in a few weeks time, come on and earn your Army Colours.

See you next year, please spread the word, enjoy the frostbite series.

Clive Grant
ASA Regional Coach