The fleet optimistically gathered in the morning to race for the Peter Matthews Memorial Race but there was not enough wind.  Their disappointment was tempered with the fleet’s first look at Ian Gray’s new boat Still Crazy at the end of the pontoon.

In the evening the fleet gathered for the end of season prize-giving dinner.  With a packed class dinner before Class Captain Andrew ‘Noddy’ Norden took to the mic.

The speech did not contain much truthful content and Noddy quit while he was ahead – just. A raft of silverware needed to be awarded, and much of it went to Scorpio and the well drilled team of Ian, Rene and Alex.  Dan Wastnage, Vivacious, continued his run of form in collecting the trophies that cannot be filled with champagne – you would think it was planned!?  Nicola Hastwell collected the Patricia Burnett bowl for the second successive year.  Nigel Cole, nominated by members of the fleet, collected the evening’s second crew prize for his contribution throughout the season with Avalanche, Flotation and the fleet in general.

David and Lyn Brown who picked up the 2018 Clanger prize for mistakenly towing their Dragon to a Swiss Ski resort were joined by son Jono to award the 2019 Clanger.  The four nominees on stage were David Hall, David Warner, Martin Makey and Dan Wastnage.  One by one the nominees were ‘outed’ and teased before three were excused.  Daniel, representing team Vivacious,  picked up the dreaded bell.  How did he earn the honour? He bought a Squib! There is a plus side to ‘winning’ the Clanger Trophy as the holder rarely awards it to themselves.  Rumour has it someone has already been careless and drawn attention to their team for the 2020 prize.   2019 prizes were awarded as follows:

RCYC Spring Saturdays                    Anarchy (Chip Cole)

RCYC Spring Sundays                       Vivacious (Dan Wastnage)

Karl Mark Trophy                              Pageboy XI  (Graeme and Clive Page, Paul Taylor)

RCYC Summer Saturdays                  Scorpio (Ian Gray)

RCYC Summer Sundays                    Vivacious

RCYC Petticrow Open Series            Scorpio

Crew Race                                          Nichola Hastwell in Anarchy

RCYC Newts Trophy and RCYC Candlesticks         Scorpio

Crew prize (nominations)                  Nigel Cole

Motty Rankin Trophy                         Avalanche (Mark and Mandy Wade)

Hectic Seal                                          Flame Again (David Hall)

Clanger                                               Vivacious