2005 ISO Eurocup - Malcesine, Italy (27th - 30th August)
For the third year running the ISO fleet converged on Fraglia Vela Malcesine, Lake Garda, for what was to turn out to be the best weeks ISO racing ever! The UK contingent of 15 ISOs and a Buzz, racing on handicap, were complemented with two Italian teams, the Monciardini brothers competing for the first time in their new acquisition.
The adrenalin was running high for the afternoon wind blowing a steady force 2 to 3, clear sunny skies and the temperature in the 30s. Race 1 saw the pace set by Ian and Simon Keam-George in SmartNav, closely followed by Mike and Dean Lillywhite in Team Rooster setting an impressive lead over the fleet, with Ian Moss and Simon Lewis in Wet and Windy taking third. Race 2 with similar conditions saw the same 3 at the front in the same order. An increasing wind for Race 3 saw the first 2 positions reversed with Bob Ladell and Luke Draper spotting the lift to take third in ISOTonic, with a strong performance on the final downwind leg. At the end of the first day we had Keam-George leading Lillywhite by 1 point with Andrew Gould and Vicky Lewis in third place having got a consistent 4th in every race.
Day 2 saw similar conditions with the wind filling in slightly more. Lillywhite managed 2 firsts and second with Keam-George getting 2 seconds and a first, leaving them on equal points. The competition for third place was equally tight with 4 points between the next 4 boats with Ian Moss having done just enough to hold third from Andrew Gould after Gould broke his rudder pin in the final race of the day.
Day three with a later start saw the wind already set in and the competition between Team Rooster and SmartNav continuing with Keam-George taking the first race and Lillywhite the second. The competition for third place was equally close with Ladell upsetting the leader board by taking second from an incandescent Keam-George in the second race of the day, pressing Lillywhites all the way to the line! The end of the third day saw Keam-George and Lillywhite on equal points for first and second with the third place being competed between Gould and Moss also on equal points with ISOTonic keeping the pressure on just one point behind.
The final day started with the front 2 keeping close together until Lillywhite failed to cover Keam-George after being luffed, continued on port gybe and was left mid fleet when he gybed back. This enabled Gould to take the race, with Keam George first and Richard and Matt Lewis in third. The final race saw no such mistakes from Lillywhite as he took a narrow lead from Keam-George covered him sufficiently to ensure overall victory. Third place was secured with another third by Gould with Moss dropping back to 6th overall with an OCS in the penultimate race lifting Ladell into 4th and Lewis to 5th just one point between them !
The RWO sponsored Pro-Am competition was won by Glossop’s Graham Shaw / Steve Howes partnered with Essex SC Bruce Bowler/ Steve Harniman followed by Team Lewis and Team Hardcastle with Lillywhite / Boyce in third.
Fleet prizes were sponsored by Cousin Trestek, giving the opportunity to congratulate the rest of the fleet on their respective close racing performances and in particular, the four teams of newly weds and engaged couples on getting the marital priorities right !
An absolutely fantastic week of very close racing with thanks to FVM and all who helped to make it happen. Next event is at Restronguet over the Bank Holiday weekend 27th, 28th and 29th August.
Overall Results Here....
