Down River Race Phipps Oar – Race Reports and Race 2 Details
Down River Race – The Phipps Oar 25th May 2024
View from the front by Henry Nurton
The down-river race of Saturday was an engaging, tactical event, where a moment’s lapse of concentration could lose several places. The swirling but gentle winds that make Beaulieu such an enjoyable place to sail were up to their mischief, and spotting these shifts first was what won the race. The day was warm and sunny, and the twenty or so boats that raced certainly enjoyed it.
Within three tacks of the start, Mary Montagu-Scott was leading the race, but with raft-ups involving most of the fleet at Bailey’s and Buckler’s hards, it was Lizzie Anders, having spotted the wind, who escaped the rafts first, and subsequently sailed to victory by a fair margin, followed by Simon Shaw, copying America’s cup trends with his dual port/starboard tacticians. The lightweight team of Ned Nicholson and myself, in a boat kindly lent by Charles Nicholson (who didn’t do so well, 7th) came in 3rd with the Johnsons 4th and Mary Montagu-Scott rounding off the top five.
View from the middle by Andrew Duncan
I managed to start in the first three or four but quickly slipped back to seven or eight. Yes, irritating. I then closed with the first three just after Brickyards. Might have been in the lead for 50 seconds but then slipped back to eight or nine. Frustrating.
I then closed again with the leaders at Bucklers Hard and believed I could cruise into say a respectable third or fourth even if Lizzie was going to be hard to pass. But no, back I slipped to position nine or ten where I unwillingly had to slog it out with Sam Van Holthe. I really wanted him to come in ahead of me but couldn’t even manage that. Useless.
View from the back by Fiona Duncan
In my customary position to the rear of the fleet I began the race ahead of a small group that included Rupert, Tim, Christian and Erica and Karen and Sophia. However, approaching the narrow channel at Buckler’s Hard marina, they all caught up, overtook and left me far behind. Peter H-B, from the safety boat, said it would help if I stopped steering into the wind all the time.
The swiftness or otherwise of my scow is nothing to do with me. I merely sit there; sometimes I go fast, other times slow – I know not why. Just beyond Buckler’s Hard, for some unaccountable reason I started going fast. “Yoo hoo” I said to Rupert as I swept past first Tim and then him. “Nice to see you” said Rupert with his customary politeness “ but I have to say, that it’s also incredibly irritating”. Somehow, just, I managed to stay ahead of all my rivals as we tacked home: my finest hour.
1. 550 Lizzie Anders
2. 320 Simon, Barbar and Mimi Shaw
3. 585 Ned Nicholson and Henry Nurton
4. 589 Red and Cleo Johnson
5. 600 Mary Montagu-Scott
6. 421 Karl and Zoey Leibat
7. 493 Coco and Charles Nicholson
8. 454 Al Fothergill
9. 561 Pippa and Camilla Sellars
10. 152 Lucy Markby
11. 414 Andrew Duncan
12. 499 Sam van Holthe
13. 358 Fiona Duncan
14. 530 Tim Robinson
15. 464 Sophia Moore and Karen Rogers
16. 457 Rupert Scott
17. 595 Erica Neve and Kristen BrandfordRetired:
205 Darren Firth
66 Trend Souter & G Fairweather
Many thanks to our big team of helpers: Ginna Gayner, Frank McGinn and Gerry Marling-Roberts on the platform. The Safety Team – Angela and Peter Hayward-Broomfield, Ian Strathcarron & Bill Vance, Vova Karavan & Simon Gibbs, (trollies too!), and shore support from the Bettridges. Last but by no means least, our thanks to the refreshment team, Hicky Gibbs & Frances Robinson and to all those who made cakes.
RACE 2 Saturday 8th June 1200 HW 1300
STARTING PLATFORM Miranda Knowles
RACE OFFICER Frank McGinn
SAFETY BOAT TEAM Bill Vance & Keith Hutton
BBQ Kindly hosted by Benji and Christian Scrimgeour. Please arrive by foot, boat or bicycle! RSVP
RACE 3 Saturday 22nd June 1100 HW 1200
STARTING PLATFORM Gerry Marling-Roberts
RACE OFFICER Oli Stanley
SAFETY BOAT TEAM Sophie Stanley & Lizzie Anders
TEA **** slot to fill ****
FUTURE DATES
Saturday 1st June BRSC SUMMER PARTY kindly hosted by Amanda and Nick Bentley-Buckle at Gardiners Ground gathering at 15:00 – 20:00. RSVP social@brsc.org
Please bring picnic rugs, drink &food and enjoy one of the best views on the river.
Monday 24th June The Keyhaven-Beaulieu-Keyhaven Potter. All details from Nick Griffin : nc.griffin@btinternet.com . Keyhaven are happy to take you as crew in their boats should you prefer. Or trail your scow to Keyhaven and sail there and back.
Sunday 7th July **** new date **** The Junior Spring Regatta details from June Kirkman : kirkmanjune@gmail.com
Yours aye,
Victoria