We had a terrific Coronation Race last Sunday with a fleet of 26 boats including 2 Toppers and an Oppie. There was much pre-race preparation and anticipation – dressing the scows and adjusting crowns and tiaras. There was hardly a breath of wind at the top of the river and once again Lizzie ‘Light Airs’ Anders really displayed her skills in low wind sailing. Photos are now up on the website: https://click.mlsend.com/link/…
Race Report from Andrew Duncan
Sunday, 6th May 2023 should go down as one of the most memorable and feel-good BRSC days ever: a big turn out, boats ‘dressed up’ to mark the Coronation the day before, sailors in jolly mood and a great party for all ages afterwards in the Mill Courtyard. It was encouraging for the health of the club to see that there was such a range of new and recently joined members there including Erica Neve, the only member in the club’s history to have a hull colour to match her hair. Magenta. Stylish!
Everyone was drifting in ‘no wind’ at the one-minute gun but seconds later a perfectly timed breath got the fleet going. With the fickle airs coming from NW/Palace House the first mark was A, sensibly brought downstream to where it was much easier to round than in its usual position. Despite that, there was the inevitable congestion – doubtless anyone who touched however lightly did their 360 just as this writer did. The next mark was F and instead of the back of the fleet closing with the front, they separated with a wide gap – not sure why but probably an unlucky hole. A fluke puff took me into the lead where I stayed for a very few minutes before my 360 lost me places – others crept through. Jay appeared behind me at F from nowhere as if my magic, cruising through on the inside, fortune favouring the bold but at the next mark, D, his luck reversed when the tide took him on to the mark and he too was into a penalty turn. I’m not sure when Lizzie slipped through the leaders into first place but it was probably between F and D. She then maintained a convincing lead using her now notorious light wind skill and came in first followed by Tabitha Davies and Billy Bubb in Billican. I understand Tabitha is a national level Oppie sailor who practices all hours and it showed: she was up with the leaders most of the time and made the tricky winds of Factory Field Reach look effortless even though this was her first time on the beat. Others in the first six included Jay Devonshire, Charles Nicholson and nephew Harry Angel-James, George Nurton and his children, followed by Hector and Rory Bubb and then me, often changing places.
Many thanks to Ginna Gayner and Oli Stanley for Platform and Race Officer duties and to Keith Hutton and Kristen Branford for their on-shore support. Thank you to all of the organisers; from rescue boat gallants Mary Montagu-Scott and Fiona Duncan, Sam and Tove van Holthe, to our Class Captain, Sailing Secretary, Social Secretary Ross McGinn and all the helpers for the thought and time given. We feasted like Kings. Finally our thanks to Martin Sellars and all at RWD for kindly hosting us in the beautiful old courtyard.
1st Lizzie Anders
2nd Tabby Davies & Billy Bubb
3rd Jay Devonshire
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