Oppie Regatta Report and Race Report for the final races for the Hextall Trophy
There was a lot of activity on the river the other weekend – the Oppie Regatta at the top of the river and two ‘back-to-back’ races which completes the Hextall Trophy Series at Needs Ore. It was a busy and successful couple of days for the Nurton Family too – many congratulations to Henry Nurton, aged 12, who took home the Judges’s Trophy on Saturday and got a first and second place in the races on Sunday. Here is his report for the weekend’s racing .
Oppie Regatta Report
The BRSC Judge’s Trophy for Optimists was a brilliant day for all, despite swirling, patchy winds that made it a difficult and engaging regatta to sail in. Before the start, the wind looked on the verge of dying, but a few puffs meant that the racing could go ahead.
As we began to set off, though, we happened to spot a WW2 Lancaster bomber, probably returning from Bournemouth airshow. While this was happening, June Kirkham who had kindly volunteered to run the day, positioned a short, well placed start line, which made it an interesting day due to a few collisions and holes in the wind near to the line.
The course was quite simple, but very difficult due to constant windshifts and areas of no wind. We had a long, tiring beat up to the windward mark, where loss of concentration, even for a few seconds, could lose the race, before a fast, easier run back to the line. In the fourth race, however, June added another mark, this time a long way downwind, while the wind began to drop. A close, intense and tactical beat up to the first mark was great fun, but the wind died on the run back. Luckily, some sailors found a strip of wind, surprisingly close to some trees, which caught out the others. The beat back to the line was interesting, as four oppies crossed the line at the same time, after a brilliant and enjoyable race.
Many thanks to June Kirkman for running a brilliant Regatta and to all those who lent a hand. Photos here: https://brsc.site/recent-photo…
RESULTS
1st Henry Nurton, 2nd Zia Snow and Natasha Sellars, 4th Cleo Johnson and Pippa Sellars
SCOW RACES 5 and 6 REPORT
Races five and six of the Scow Summer series were a fun, entertaining and captivating two races. With shifty tides and light winds, the course set by PRO Ginna Gayner was to Pigs, North bank and Withes. In the first race, a close contest full of surprising comebacks and spinning winds, the tide was confusing us, and a shorten course after the first lap was welcome, with the Nurtons holding their lead over Jay Devonshire, and Lizzie Anders sneaking along the west bank of the river in her own wind to take third. In the second race the tide was steadier and we tried getting our father to stop giving us tips, but he wasn’t good at keeping quiet. Jay took the lead from the Nurtons while rounding Pigs and, despite many tacks up to the finish held first place to the end. A couple of Lasers and Toppers were also out, while a friendly seal came to play.
Many thanks to Ginna for running the Starting Platform and as our Race Officer and to Rupert Scott and Peter Bettridge for safety cover.
Race 5
1. Nurton family (Henry, helm, George, tactics. Clara, trim).
2. Jay Devonshire
3. Lizzie Anders
4. Red and Cleo Johnson
5. Mary Montagu-Scott and Miranda Knowles
6. Grace and Elizabeth Gedge
7. Victoria and Edward Bonham Carter
8. Bea McGill
9. Tim Robinson
10. Lucy Markby
Race 6
1. Jay Devonshire
2. Nurton family
3. Victoria and Edward Bonham Carter
4. Mary Montagu-Scott and Miranda Knowles
5. Bea McGill
6. Grace and Elizabeth Gedge
7. Red and Cleo Johnson
8. Lizzie Anders
9. Tim Robinson
10. Lucy Markby
RACE 1 Scow Borthwick Cup Saturday 16th September 11.00 HT 1241
STARTING PLATFORM Ginna Gayner
RACE OFFICER Frank McGinn
SAFETY BOAT TEAM Peter Bettridge & Elizabeth Gedge
UP RIVER RACE Saturday 23 September 1510 HT 1741
STARTING PLATFORM & RACE OFFICER June Kirkman & Ginna Gayner
SAFETY BOAT TEAMS Peter Bettridge, Vova Karavan, Keith Hutton Ian Strathcarron *** 2 more Slots available ***
SHORE SUPPORT Rupert Stratton
Up River Celebratory Tea kindly hosted by Maria Stratton at Friar’s Oak RSVP malystratton@hotmail.com