REPORT ON TRIPLE CROWN I

REPORT ON TRIPLE CROWN I.O.M. OPEN MEETING
AT READING SAILING CLUB ON 19 APRIL 2008
(Report by Tony Brailsford)

The day started overcast with a fresh easterly wind, a bad direction for R.S.C and rain had been forecast for Saturday. On the day fourteen competitors arrived with triple crowns of wood or GRP with various differing deck layouts which reflected the home build intention of the design.

The easterly wind presented a challenge to race officer Lionel Corper as the windward mark was inevitably in the lee of the clubhouse and sheltered by trees and bushes, this made first mark rounding a challenge for the skippers. The course was a port hand triangle followed by a sausage with a short final beat. The wind strength presented the skippers with a dilemma regarding rig size, 1 or 2 and the first race started with a mix of both, in subsequent races most leading skippers used no 1 suit.

Numbers were soon depleted by the departure of Mike Robinson when a faulty deck patch caused a near sinking and subsequent flooding of his electrics. Chris Treagust, last years winner was dogged by gear failure when he broke his no 1 suit mast forcing the use of no 2 for the remainder of the morning, a jury rig enabled use of no 1 rig for most of the afternoon racing.

Six races were completed in the morning and Peter Popham established a commanding lead with five wins and a second. The racing halted at 12.30 while everyone adjourned to the clubhouse for a warm up and lunch of soup and pasties.

The wind continued to be fresh easterly in the afternoon, thankfully the rain had held off but cold temperatures were a problem for many of the skippers. A further eight races were run in the afternoon, with Peter winning four. Tony Brailsford three and Chris Treagust one. This cemented Peters position and he finished the day as a very deserving winner with Tony second and Mike Payne third, closely followed by Chris fourth.

The prize giving was carried out by 4pm and Peter thanked the organizing team and the ladies in the canteen for their efforts.

Unfortunately the weather hampered the day and no doubt deterred some skippers (there had been twenty two entries). Hopefully we will be blessed with better weather for the 2009 event.

Position	Skipper	Sail #	Club/City		Freq		Score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
14			14	0	14	0	14	16	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
1	Peter Popham	99	Three Rivers		2.4		15.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	3.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	3.0	1.0
2	Tony Brailsford	07	RSC		.925		22.0	1.0	2.0	5.0	4.0	2.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	2.0	3.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	2.0
3	Mike Payne	68	RSC		.725		51.0	4.0	3.0	3.0	9.0	4.0	7.0	6.0	6.0	4.0	4.0	3.0	4.0	8.0	3.0
4	Chris Treagust	06	Emsworth Slipper		.935		52.0	3.0	4.0	2.0	2.0	5.0	5.0	15.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	5.0	5.0	15.0	15.0
5	Nick Oxlade	71	Ryde		.985		61.0	13.0	6.0	4.0	3.0	6.0	2.0	8.0	4.0	5.0	7.0	9.0	3.0	5.0	8.0
6	John Briault	106	RSC		.875		74.0	5.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	4.0	4.0	5.0	10.0	9.0	7.0	9.0	7.0	5.0
7	Darren Wilkinson	31	Woodley MYC		2.4		83.0	6.0	15.0	10.0	6.0	10.0	9.0	10.0	10.0	7.0	6.0	4.0	7.0	2.0	6.0
8	Roger Plumb	38	Emsworth Slipper		.735		87.0	8.0	5.0	15.0	15.0	9.0	6.0	5.0	7.0	6.0	8.0	8.0	15.0	6.0	4.0
9	John Hynds	88	RSC		.965		91.0	12.0	15.0	6.0	5.0	3.0	10.0	15.0	9.0	9.0	10.0	10.0	6.0	4.0	7.0
10	Mike Mace	108	Woodley MYC		2.4		99.0	11.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	11.0	8.0	7.0	11.0	8.0	5.0	6.0	8.0	15.0	15.0
11	Allan Oxlade	109	Woodley MYC		.825		137.0	10.0	9.0	11.0	10.0	8.0	11.0	3.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0
12	Ron Perkins	57	Woodley MYC		.745		151.0	9.0	15.0	9.0	11.0	15.0	15.0	9.0	8.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0
13	Noel Donaldson	29	Oxford MBC		2.4		172.0	7.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0
14	Mike Robinson	52	Oxford MBC		.945		179.0	14.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0


Peter Popham (99) leading Tony Brailsford (07)	Winner Peter Popham