The David Eagling Memorial Trophy 20 Sep 2014

As is usual with Cruiser Events, the weather cheered up with sun just as George Winder on Sprite the Committee Boat aided by Wendy and Mark Eagling in the RCYC RIB got the fleet of eight sailing cruisers away in Creeksea Reach on Saturday morning.

Despite fickle winds and an increasing ebb, George finished the two leading boats on an improvised shortened course. The clear winner was Steve Barham’s Verlette and second was Paul and Gaynor’s Harvest Moon who then motored to Fambridge along with the rest of the fleet who had struggled to make progress under sail.

At the Ferryboat Inn the crews of Raffles, Live Wire, Sherpa, Spangle, Quick Reflex, Star Swan and Terry Wesson-Wilmot’s motor boat Puffin had lunch with the many other Cruiser members who had arrived by land. The fun quiz set by Duncan and Katherine Becker for the Spangle Cup was won by Tomahawk owned by recent new members Ronnie and Christopher Bailey, who keep their 43 foot racing catermaran at Fambridge. The quiz master for 2015 will be Bob Kirkby of Sherpa whose name was drawn.

The late afternoon sail back with the last of the ebb was great. The wind had filled in and the Class Captain was pleased to hear both Wendy and Mark Eagling say that it was just the sort of Cruiser fun event they had envisaged when Tony and Kathleen Simpson donated the trophy so many years ago.