Shustoke report and results

A small but competitive fleet of six, mainly comprising of home boats began their contest. Within the pack was last year’s winner Bob and Colette Horlock from Exe Sailing Club, which is the home to the strongest Comet Trio fleet in the country.

In the first race it was the “Bushwackers” with dad and son team of Stuart and Rory Bush who established a substantial lead to take the first race ahead of Adrian and Tracie Padro. Last year’s winner came in third.
In the second race Stuart and Rory were looking confident managing to stay ahead of the Adrian and Tracie and opening up a safe margin. With minds clearly elsewhere, probably contemplating that having had most of the winter off was a good thing, the Padro’s nearly took Stuart and Rory on the final two downwind legs. With Stuart and Rory now forced into defensive play, it wasn’t long before Adrian and Tracie were able to seize their opportunity and win the race. Third and fourth positions were equally hotly contested with a draw on the line between Tony Fulford and Bob / Colette Horlock!

Into the last race and for the decider….. Well it was certainly going to be a Shustoke boat home first, which was good to see given that in previous years both crews had been bridesmaids in this event.
It was at this point that it is rumoured that Adrian suggested that Tracie wore his lucky snood to keep her warm in the closing race. Tracie, always suspicious of a gift from Adrian, checked out the item of clothing and realised that the snood was branded “Calvin Klein” with an extra hole at one end. Despite Adrian trying to pass-off his undergarments as a snood Adrian and Tracie managed to win the last race snatching the victory from Stuart and Rory.

Final Comet Trio results:

1st – Adrian and Tracie Padro, 2nd – Stuart and Rory Bush, 3rd – Bob and Colette Horlock, 4th – Tony Fulford, 5th – Anthony and Carol Campion and 6th Chris Padro and Peter McDonald.