Borthwick Cup – Race 3, Saturday 17 October 2026

Course: Ps Dp Fp Cp Ap Dp x 2 (shortened)
Wind: NE/NW 2-3
Start: 3.00 pm

1. 376 Jay Devonshire (3.40)
2. 589 Red and Cleo Johnson
3.  152Victoria BC and Lucy Markby
4. 421 Karl Liebat and Karen Rogers
5. 499 Sam van Holthe
6. 565 Mike Doherty
7. 358 Andrew and Fiona Duncan
8. 530 Tim Robinson
9. 600 Mary Montagu Scott and Gary Momber

Race Officer: Peter Hayward Broomfield 
Race Starter: Gerry Marling-Roberts
Safety: June Kirkman and Cassie Strang
Tea: Ollie Stanley

Race report by Red Johnson:- A lovely autumn afternoon in the sunshine brought out a good fleet of nine Scows to Factory Field for the third race of the Borthwick Cup.

Conditions were similar to Race 2 but a little more challenging, with the wind swinging between northwest and northeast and some particularly vicious gusts coming straight down the river. Peter had the tricky task of setting the course and opted for a beat to P.

With the wind so variable, it was difficult to decide which end of the line to favour. Most of the fleet opted for the middle, hedging their bets. Sam made an excellent start and led at P, where a sudden wind hole caused something of a traffic jam as boats struggled to round the mark. This opened up gaps in the fleet that proved difficult to close.

On the downwind leg to F, we were overhauled by Victoria, Lucy and Karl and Karen, but managed to sneak inside them at the mark to regain the lead.

Finding the best pressure was the order of the day, with boats occasionally pointing in entirely different directions as the gusts worked their way down the river. There was certainly an element of luck involved, although once the fleet had settled, there was relatively little place-changing and the gaps became increasingly difficult to close.

We enjoyed a close battle with Jay, Victoria and Lucy, before Jay found a particularly favourable lift on the penultimate beat, moving just ahead at the windward mark and extending his lead on the final downwind leg.

Meanwhile, a particularly savage gust left our Scow half full of water, requiring some enthusiastic bailing to get us safely to the finish.

After 45 minutes of racing, and with the finishing order fairly well established, Peter wisely shortened the course on the final upwind leg.

A thoroughly entertaining afternoon’s racing, followed by the welcome sight of Oli’s tea and cherry cake (made by Mary) back at Factory Field.