DLS/RAL are la crème de la crème

After another great year of racing, last year’s runners up – Diamond Light Source / Rutherford Appleton Laboratory – on Crème de la Crème are the 2015 winners of the Eric Seal Trophy after several years of trying. Skipper Nick Rees managed to do it on top of his responsibilities as chairman of the regatta organising committee, so a great show all round.

Runners up were NCA 3, with IDOR old hand Gary Bowers’ CUSTOMS/UKBF entry in third.

The Eric Seal Trophy will be awarded at the CSSA AGM next year.

The racing this year took place in generally windy conditions with three days when the wind hardly dropped below 14 knots and was often above 20, yet we still lost Friday to racing when a flat calm descended on the Solent and forced the ISC to abandon. Monday also saw all but one boat timed out due to failing breezes and some powerful tidal streams leaving boats unable to get round critical marks.

Every competitor completed the race around the IOW on Tuesday in between seven and eight hours – a hugely impressive time thanks to strong winds and favourable tides. And great sailing, of course.

The ‘long’ race to North Head and back was also done and dusted in a couple of hours, while the inshore races were “no spinnakers”.

Thank you to everybody who took part in whatever capacity. There are some great photographs of the Wednesday City of Plymouth Trophy inshore races on the Gallery page.