The 2011 - 2012 Illusion season has kicked off on 1st October with a full fixtures list of 38 race days from October through April. The class has already enjoyed three weekends of sailing including the 15-16 October Trafalgar Trophy with 19 starters and an RYA-supported training weekend complete with video playback footage.
It is with great sadness that we have lost our Class Admiral, Vernon Stratton, who not only founded and inspired the success of the Illusion Class, but who meant so much as a friend, mentor, coach and kindred spirit to so many Illusionists. In celebration of his spirit, the Class has re-named the National Championships the Stratton Memorial Trophy, and is establishing an important event to celebrate Vernon with a "Stratton Memorial Illusion Sail Past" on 10-11 March 2012, including tea at the Club. We are coordinating with Pepe Stratton on detailed planning. We aim to have all of our Illusions on the water to commemorate the event (40+ boats, including as many of the early Class sailors as possible), with commemorative awards for participants for the Saturday sail-past. Pepe has kindly donated Vernon's Illusion 'Illustration' as a loaner boat which, alongside 'Loaner', provide the Class with two excellent boats to support new class joiners.
Regarding other initiatives, the Class has elected Mark Downer as Bembridge Class Captain, and re-appointed Bruce Huber as Commodore and James Axtell as Hon Secretary. Other appointments include Mike Toogood (Hon Treasurer) in place of Philip Bown, our Technical Committee (Robin Ebsworth, Rudy Jurg, Mark Downer), Serena Gosling (Socials) and Raymond Simonds (Team and Match Racing Captain).
We are working hard to fill out the Race Officer roster, which still has some gaps that need to be filled for the season.
| Date | Event | Start | Remarks |
| Sat 1 Oct 11 | Tuning & Racing (HW 14:43) | 13:00 | Committee Meeting |
| Sun 2 Oct 11 | Tuning & Racing (HW 15:27) | 14:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 8 Oct 11 | Skills & Drills (HW 09:54) | 10:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 9 Oct 11 | Racing (HW 10:38) | 10:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 15 Oct 11 | Trafalgar Trophy (HW 13:48) | 12:30 | Lunch; Autumn Dinner |
| Sun 16 Oct 11 | Trafalgar Trophy (HW 14:19) | 13:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 29 Oct 11 | Guy Fawkes Trophy (HW 13:38 - BST) | 12:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 30 Oct 11 | Guy Fawkes Trophy (HW 13:23 - GMT) | 12:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 12 Nov 11 | Picnic Hamper (HW 11:49) | 10:30 | Lunch |
| Sun 13 Nov 11 | Picnic Hamper (HW 12:23) | 11:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 26 Nov 11 | Bailey Bowl (HW 11:34) | 10:30 | Lunch |
| Sun 27 Nov 11 | Bailey Bowl (HW 12:22) | 11:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 10 Dec 11 | Inter Club Team Racing (HW 10:51) | 09:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 11 Dec 11 | Inter Club Team Racing (HW 11:27) | 09:30 | Lunch |
| Mon 26 Dec 11 | Christmas Cracker (HW 12:09) | 10:30 | Lunch |
| Tues 27 Dec 11 | Christmas Cracker (HW 12:54) | 11:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 1 Jan 12 | No Racing (HW 16:19) | Lunch | |
| Mon 2 Jan 12 | No Racing (HW 17:15) | Lunch | |
| Sat 7 Jan 12 | Ice Breaker (HW 10:10) | 10:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 8 Jan 12 | Ice Breaker (HW 10:50) | 10:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 14 Jan 12 | Racing (HW 14:29) | 13:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 15 Jan 12 | Racing (HW 15:16) | 13:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 21 Jan 12 | Piers January Jacket (HW 09:31) | 10:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 22 Jan 12 | Piers January Jacket (HW 10:25) | 10:00 | Lunch |
| Sat 28 Jan 12 | Invitation Match Racing (HW 14:24) | 12:30 | Lunch |
| Sun 29 Jan 12 | Invitation Match Racing (HW 14:59) | 13:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 11 Feb 12 | Valentine Trophy (HW 13:33) | 12:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 12 Feb 12 | Valentine Trophy (HW 13:33) | 12:00 | Lunch; AGM oc |
| Sat 18 Feb 12 | Racing (HW 08:19) | 09:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 19 Feb 12 | Racing (HW 09:24) | 09:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 25 Feb 12 | National Championships 2012 (HW 13:22) | 12:00 | Lunch; Spring Dinner |
| Sun 26 Feb 12 | National Championships 2012 (HW 13:54) | 12:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 10 Mar 12 | Racing (HW 12:34) | 10:45 | Lunch; |
| Sun 11 Mar 12 | Racing (HW 13:17) | 11:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 24 Mar 12 | Spring Plate (HW 12:23) | 11:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 25 Mar 12 | Spring Plate (HW 13:54) | 12:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 7 Apr 12 | Vernon's Easter Cup (HW 12:27) | 11:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 8 Apr 12 | Vernon's Easter Cup (HW 13:14) | 11:30 | Lunch |
| Sat 21 Apr 12 | St George's Day Trophy (HW 12:23) | 11:00 | Lunch |
| Sun 22 Apr 12 | Woodford Long Distance Race (HW 12:55) | 11:00 | Lunch; Committee Meeting oc |