Postponing the 2023 edition of the Penguin Trophy from windy December to warm Easter Monday 2024 turned out to be a great decision.  The starters and scorers, the sparring sailors and a swarm of spectators soaked up a scintillating spectacle of skillful Scow sailing shenanigans in sparkling sunshine, just off the Club pontoon.

The entrants ranged from under ten to well over seventy years old, including several top Scow sailors and past Penguin winners joined by enthusiastic newcomers to this great event.  Reigning champions Nik and Hannah Froud were much missed as they had to attend an important birthday party, likewise previous winner Hannah Snellgrove who had some other important sailing to do. 

The eleven teams were divided into three flights, each flight racing two heats and the winner of each flight going through to a one-race final.  The racing was close, no quarter given!  In one heat three of the four boats started prematurely, only one went back.  In another heat half the fleet returned even though only one boat had been over the start line – the returners saved at the windward mark by a pair of RIBs practicing towing for their powerboat exams, conveniently holding up the rest of the fleet.  Yet another heat had a true photo finish, the winners sneaking through to snatch first by barely the width of a Scow jib (that’s not very far) in the last five seconds of the race.  So all good fun and we were still friends going into the final.  By now the pontoon was groaning under the weight of spectators.

The final was spiced up by the passage of the inbound Wightlink ferry through the first beat.  Rory and Alex Paton had graciously taken a penalty turn on the start line, leaving them with no option but to sail to leeward of the ferry.  The other three boats managed to squeeze to windward of it.  Luke and Emma McEwen had a narrow lead at the first mark, chased hard by Jeremy and Max Vines and Ben and Lucas Muskett, with the Patons making up good ground on the fleet, but there were no changes of position before the finish.

At the prizegiving everyone fell with pleasure on a large pile of buttered hot cross buns, tea and coffee, and admired the lovely vintage silver Penguin Trophy.  The top three teams also took home enormous Easter eggs.  Congratulations to Chris Knox’s race team and all the competitors for an excellent event, we look forward to the December 2024 edition – may the weather smile on us just as kindly!

Results

1. Luke and Emma McEwen

2. Jeremy and Max Vines

3. Ben and Lucas Muskett

4. Rory and Alex Paton

5. George and Sarah Richards

6. Milla Vinycomb and Giles Riley

7. Kate and Neil Wharmby

8. Steve and Theo Rockey

9. John Vinycomb and Becky White

10. Helen and Arne Erdbeer

11. Will Vinycomb and Gareth Griffiths