SCOW SERIES : Race 5 – Race Report

Saturday saw the last race of the Spring Series at RFF. We’ve had a most enjoyable season at the top of the river, with lower winds compared to previous years.  This has split the fleet between those that have the patience and the skill to contend with light airs, to those of us that find it truly agonising and frustrating.  However, we’re all united in our thanks to the fabulous group of  post-race ‘tea volunteers’ who have looked after us, thrust a hot cup of tea into one hand, a sandwich in the other and restored our equilibrium.

Race Report from  Camilla Sellars 

Race 5 :  Saturday, 20th May

There was a good turnout of 14 scows for the last race at Rope Factory Field this spring before the fleet heads down the river to Needs Ore. We’ve had a lot of northerlies and easterlies recently, and Saturday was no different – a light to moderate breeze blowing predominantly from the North East. With the occasional huge gust that came out of nowhere. After a brief postponement to allow enough water for launching to be practicable, the race started with a beat up to mark A. The start was tricky. The favoured end of the line was near the starting platform, but the wind direction was such that you couldn’t just sail back and forth or else you’d be on the wrong side of the line with less than a minute to go (an infringement), or wallowing in silt in the lee of the platform. Some advanced tactics were therefore required. My daughter Pippa and I figured this out with about a minute to spare, and decided to try to hold still, sails flapping, somewhere near the starting platform before accelerating on starboard tack to coincide with the starting gun. Fortunately we judged it about right and got off to a good start, as did Mary Montagu Scott, while another boat was overzealous and had to go back (though he did go on to win the race, so perhaps this served to level the playing field).

We chased Mary to the first mark, but having rounded it, she shot off downwind and gained at least a 50-metre lead on the rest of the fleet. We were headed down to the furthest reaches of the Factory Field race area, to mark O, leaving mark E to port as we made our way downriver. Mary led the charge, with the rest of the fleet bearing down on her, and the gap began to close. Having rounded the bend in the river at Carpenter’s Dock, we spotted mark O directly ahead of us, just upwind of Oxleys. Pippa and I sheeted in and aimed for the mark. But before too long, we realised we were the only boat headed in that direction, whilst the rest (still following Mary, I believe) were sailing further downwind to an altogether different buoy closer to the Oxleys jetty. Should we hold firm, or change course? I dithered for a moment or two. Ben Savage was soon hot on our heels, and seemed to be siding with us, and after a brief exchange we agreed to stick to our guns. Ben rounded the mark just ahead of us, by which point those who had been on an extra jaunt downwind had realised their error and started to tack back up amid shouts of frustration.

Mark F was next, then upwind to B before finishing. I jostled for position with Ben Savage, tacking round mark F just before him. Having tacked round the mark, I realised that we probably shouldn’t have tacked at all, and so tacked back onto starboard again and promptly came to a complete standstill. Having been complacent about our very brief flirtation with first place, we were overtaken by what felt like the entire fleet – although in reality I think it was Jay Devonshire, Victoria and Edward Bonham Carter, and Angela Hayward-Broomfield, with Mary close behind, as well as Simon and Babar Shaw. Half the fleet. The final upwind leg put us through our paces, with areas of lighter wind interspersed with violent gusts that arrived seemingly without warning and disappeared just as quickly. Two scows heeled over just a tad too far and scooped up enough water to require bailing, which hindered their progress towards the finish. Jay Devonshire, Victoria and Edward, and Simon and Babar dealt with the conditions admirably and finished in first, second and third respectively, followed by myself and Pippa, and Mary, who had become almost entangled together whilst gybing around the final mark B which we had to leave to port before finishing. Apologies Mary; we should have left you a little more room at the mark, but I was too keen to finish in a hurry so that we could go and investigate the club first aid kit as Pippa had grazed her knee and I didn’t fancy having to hose down the inside of our scow. The first aid kit in the clubhouse is exceedingly well-stocked, should anyone need it, by the way.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time to allow us to enjoy some great racing; Ginna, Andrew and Red on the starting platform, Charles and Charlie in the safety boat and of course to Sally and Amanda for the excellent refreshments.

Next Race – Down River Race : The Phipps Oar Trophy    Saturday 3rd June  11.00   HT 11.02