Race 6 Report, Ginna’s Sailing Week & Regatta Update posted by Victoria

With the summer programme in full swing, it’s been another busy week for BRSC members on the river at Needs Ore. Firstly, the race report from last weekend.

RACE REPORT: Race 6 from Richard Chitty

My second race of the year and my second report! When will I learn?

It was a glorious morning on one of the hottest days of the summer. But with a gentle easterly breeze and a strong flood tide, some of the sixteen scow sailors wondered if we would be able to race at all. However James McGill as Race Officer, supported by Ginna Gayner, set about getting the race underway. They set a course with a long beat down the river to Exbury, then a reach back up to Bay of Pigs, a short tack across to North Bank, a long run up river to Fiddlers and a short beat back to the finish off Gins, where we were due to have drinks with Julian and Holly Chichester. However it became evident to them before the start that the fleet were having difficulty making any headway against the tide, so the first beat was shortened to North Bank in a hope that there would be enough wind to get the fleet that far!

At the start, the fleet was split, with a third of the scows, including myself, opting for the north bank, a third for the south bank and a third somewhere in between, drifting back up river. Those on the south bank managed to cross the line soon after the start. Martin and Camilla Sellars in their two scows with their daughters Natasha and Pippa trimming their jibs, led the ‘south bankers’ slowly up towards the Bay of Pigs. Us ‘north bankers’ had a frustrating time initially making no progress against the tide. Symon Stratton, myself and a few others closest to the line decided to stick it out, whilst the rest gave up and crossed over to the other side. The wind then began to build slowly and 10 minutes after the start I was able to lead the remaining few ‘north bankers’ across the line and heading inshore over the mud flats out of the tide, began the slow beat to North Bank.

The ‘south bankers’ fared much better and Martin rounded North Bank with a clear lead over Camilla, closely followed by Rupert Scott and Bill Osborne-Young. Martin was already round Bay of Pigs and on his way back to North Bank by the time I led the ‘north bankers’ around it for the first time.

The fleet had split with Martin well on his way up the river towards Fiddlers by the time Camilla, Rupert, Bill and myself rounded North Bank for the second time. The remainder of the fleet were spread out behind with the lead scows rounding the Bay of Pigs.

It was then a dead run up river to Fiddlers with the slackening tide helping us on our way. As Martin approached Gins, James and Ginna decided to shorten the course to finish the race there and allow us to get ashore early. During the run to Gins, I managed to creep past Bill, Rupert and Camilla and crossed the line in second place and Bill, not to be out done, managed to pass Rupert, to finish fourth. The rest of the fleet were strung out behind with Red Johnson finishing sixth, just ahead of Symon Stratton.

Having moored up on the Chichester’s long jetty, we were welcomed by Julian and Holly who provided us with plenty of drinks and some delicious eats on their lawn. After a thank you to our hosts from the Commodore, we began to get back into our scows for the gentle return beat back down the river to Needs Ore to finish off the day.

Our thanks to James and Ginna for organising the race, Tim Robinson with Charlotte Hosier providing safety in one boat and Robert Gayner in another, and of course Julian and Holly for hosting us at Gins.

GINNA’S SAILING WEEK

An excellent turnout of twenty-three scow sailors took part in Ginna’s sailing week and it was wonderful to welcome several new faces this year. We had a beautiful sail up to Bucklers Hard, lots of teaming up with different crews and practicing our skills, culminating in a very lively, wet race on the last day. All thanks to Ginna for so expertly guiding us through the week and to our trusty Safety Boat Team – Peter Hayward-Broomfield, Robert Gayner, Charles Cook-Hurle, Peter Bettridge and Kristen Neve. We are desperately short of Safety volunteers to back up the ‘old guard’, (Kristen not included in this group), and if we can’t muster volunteers in the future we will have to drop some of our activities next year which would be a very great shame. Please get in touch with Sam Van Holthe if you interested in helping.

REGATTA UPDATE

Saturday, 27th August

Starting Platform Ginna Gayner & David Moore-Gwyn

Race Office Jay Devonshire

Sunday, 28th August

Starting Platform & RO Gerard Downes, Sarah Karsten & Miranda Knowles

Please ensure your kit and equipment, including boat cover, is clearly marked – the lost property bin overfloweth. The timetable for the 2 day event is posted on the website link here: and please remind yourself of the sailing instructions available here: https://brsc.site/wp-content/u… Course cards can be downloaded from the website here:

REFRESHMENTS

Please bring a picnic for both days. There will be a pop up BRSC bar over Saturday lunchtime and ‘Regatta Tea’ on Sunday. All contributions to the tea table gratefully received.

Finally, as ever, please be mindful of the residents at Needs Ore, and proceed at ‘walking pace’ past the cottages. Thank you.

Let’s get sailing!.

Yours aye,

Victoria Bonham Carter
Captain of Scows