Army Dinghy Racing - Lagos Trophy 2011 Join the ASA Today

Inter Corps Dinghy Team Racing Championship

The Inter Corps Dinghy Team Racing Championship, The Lagos Trophy, was held at Thorney Island Sailing Club (TISC) on 14-15 Jul 11. A total of 7 teams entered, including an A and B team from the Royal Signals, each team consisted of three boats with a helm and crew in each.

Prior to the Championships a two day training course was organised that enabled both novice crews and those with more experience to cover everything from the basics of dinghy racing to the intricacies of more developed team racing tactics. This was an invaluable course that enhanced the standard of sailing before the two days of competition. It also gave the opportunity for crews to receive talks from experts on-shore as well as on the water.

Thursday 14

A detailed race brief preceded a round-robin series of races, some 21 in total, where each team sailed the others once in a one-round match around a box shaped course. TISC is situated on a tidal estuary and at the time of the event high tide was around midday, during spring tides. The first and last races were therefore sailed in strong tidal conditions and when the wind dropped to only a few knots some of the races had to be delayed just so that teams could get to the start line. Indeed in one race between the AAC and the AGC the first boat to finish (AAC) did so before the other five boats had even crossed to start.

At the end of the day the round-robin league table showed R Sigs A in 1st place with 6 wins, the AAC 2nd with 5 wins – having lost only to R Sigs A and AGC in 3rd with Combat Arms 4th. A post race meeting was held between the Captains and it was decided that the following day there would be semi-finals, finals, 3rd and 4th play-offs, and a round robin to decide the final places. This would give all the teams some more racing and achievable in the light winds forecasted for the next day.

Friday 15

The day started with light winds (as promised) so the start was delayed, and boats were towed out to the course until competition could commence, which it duly did late in the morning. The semi-finals were closely fought events and a best of three, with a boat swap between races one and two to ensure fairness. The AAC beat the AGC and the R Sigs beat the Combat Arms, in what was some of the closest team racing so far and lined up a repeat of the final three years previous when the R Sigs beat the AAC. Following the round-robin for the final places the wind filled, and the 3rd/4th play offs were sailed with a victory to the AGC.

The first race of the final began with the predictable jostling at the start which led to an unstable lead of 1/4/5 to the AAC at the first windward mark. Running downwind from mark 2 to 3 the AAC managed to make up a place amongst frequent gybing and protests from both teams, to hold 1/3/5 at the final mark. The fleet then split left and right that resulted in a first race victory to the AAC with a 1/3/4 at the finish line.

Boats were swapped and once again there was much activity and protesting at the start with the AAC holding 1/3/6 to mark 2. The R Sigs covered well on the downwind leg and gained the upper hand rounding mark 3 in 2/3/4, looking secure in forcing a third race decider. Unfortunately the R Sigs boat in third snagged their rudder on the final mark during a heavy gust and were dragged by the tide making it difficult to break free, allowing the remainder to pass. The AAC were able to sail through for a 1/3 and eventually a sixth place once their Captain, and author of this article, removed himself from a sand bank, securing the Lagos Trophy for the first time for the AAC. The AAC team comprised:

Col Alex Tucker crewed by Maj Charlie Hillman;
Capt Charles Field crewed by Lt Col Neal Hutchinson
WO1 Angus Bartaby crewed by WO2 Keith Lazell.(the old mans’ boat).

The event was exceptionally well organised, supported and run so many thanks to everyone on the shore and on the water who made it possible.

Final race results were:

Lagos Trophy Results 2011 - Day 1: Round Robin

Day 2 - Finals etc:

Finals

Report by WO1 Angus Bartaby AAC