by Miranda Knowles

Course: Wp Bp Es Ps x 1

Wind: light SW

It was the maiden race for my new acquisition, Clara 400, and it was the perfect day to put her through her paces, a good breeze, the clouds clearing to reveal blue sky and no rain and thankfully for me, a small fleet of 5 starters.

A good sail to Withies and then to Blackwater, which seemed to have moved down river somewhat, meaning the top 3 boats all overshot slightly and so I could make up the ground lost after a bad start.  A lovely run down to Exbury with Karl Liebat in the lead with Andrew Duncan, Mary Montagu-Scott, myself and Tim Robinson chasing hard. It was unfortunate for Karl though, who had to take his penalty 360 for hitting Blackwater and as a result lost his top spot. 

Hardening up round Exbury it was a beat to Pigs and I found myself in the extremely unusual position of being lead boat! Luckily we didn’t have much further to go so after rounding Pigs to starboard I had to keep my nerve and head to the finishing line.  Well done Clara, first over the line, followed by Karl who managed to sail back into second place, followed by Andrew, Mary and Tim.

Many thanks to Ginna Gayner who, for me, laid the perfect course and to Peter Bettridge and Lizzie Anders for safety boat duty and making sure we all knew where the Exbury buoy was as it had lost its flag.

Race Officer & Starting – Ginna Gayner; Safety Boat – Peter Bettridge and Lizzie Anders

Course: Wp, Bp, Es, Ps x 1

1. 400 – Miranda Knowles
2. 421 – Karl Liebat
3. 358 – Andrew Duncan
4. 600 – Mary Montagu-Scott
5. 530 – Tim Robinson

Course: Ns  Cp  Ns Bs and finish at the Bucklers Wood.  Wind NE gusty

It was an unusual north easterly wind, slightly gusty as it came across the land through the trees. A good turn out and a course to take us first down river to North Bank against a strong tide then back to Club, back to North Bank again and then Blackwater before heading to the finish at the Hackmans near Bucklers Hard. 

The fleet stayed quite close, with some changing of places as we tacked up river across the tide. Jay Devonshire had got away at the start, no catching him, and the rest of us battled to catch up without success. Frustrating at times, not least because I strayed again a little too close to the western shore and touched the lovely Beaulieu mud again causing a slip in place. But no matter for on arrival at Carol and John Hackmans, any thought of that passed and we tucked into a delicious array of eats, drinks, jolly chat.  Many thanks to all who had helped, not least to Carol and John for the delicious refreshments and to Bill Osborne-Young, Lizzie Anders and Annabelle Liebat in the safety boat and Gerry and Peter Marling-Roberts for ‘platform’ and race officer.

A swift down wind sail back to Needs Ore with the tide got us all back without incident.
Another lovely day on the river. 

1  Jay Devonshire
2  Karl and Zoe Liebat
3  Andrew Duncan