RACE 4 & Race 3 Race Report

We had a beautiful Autumn sail last Sunday, the wind veering between blustery gusts and glassy calm, with an excellent course set by Ginna that had us weaving up and down to Oxleys allowing us snippets of time to appreciate how pretty the river looked in the clear afternoon light.

RACE 4 Saturday, 15th October 1500 HT: 1505

Starting Platform & CRO Frances & Tim Robinson

Safety Team Victoria & Edward Bonham Carter

Tea Anyone like to pop the kettle on?

RACE 3 Race Report – Sunday 9th October, RFF – from Charles Nicholson

We had not expected to be pretty much becalmed half way to Oxleys; but we were; any wind we had was corkscrewing, coming from all points of the compass; first the north bank seemed favoured, then mid-stream; who would come out ahead?

It hadn’t been like that in the boat park, with a stiff south westerly blowing and discussions about reefing. Eight boats started, with half solo, half two-up. As ever, the prevailing wind direction favoured the far end of the starting line and there was the usual manoeuvring to get the best start.

CRO Ginna had set an excellent course, with a long windward leg to Oxleys, then downwind the whole way back, a loop and then back again to Oxleys and the finish.

The first leg was an extremely tactical beat, with the earlier stiff wind diminishing to a patchy breeze with the familiar huge Beaulieu River shifts – look away from the wind indicator for long and you could be 30% off the wind.

And then en route to Oxleys the wind disappeared. Jay went from first to last; Mike Doherty drifted ahead; then Victoriaand Ed; Andrew Duncan, with a beaming Fiona came up in mid channel, with Nick BB and Nimesh Patel nearby. Every boat had their moment – even Miranda Knowles and Sophie Smith, by then hampered by their seemingly wise earlier decision to reef.

In the end, Jay and Red found the first of a steadying breeze, slipping up the east bank and away, with the fleet following as the wind filled in. The lead swapped between them on the long downwind leg, with the boats literally touching at the rounding mark.

The long final upwind leg saw more positions changing, with Red sailing into a calm patch, letting Mike almost catch up with Jay. In the end Jay claimed another deserved win, with Mike in third and Victoria and Ed in fourth.

The organisation was as immaculate as ever – big thanks to Gerry on the Starting Platform, Ginna for a top course, safety team Lizzie and Camilla who ‘purred’ up and down the river with the new electric engine and of course heartfelt thanks to our wonderful hosts at Oxleys, Stephanie and Charles Morgan who treated us to a delicious BBQ, ably assisted by Lindy and John. https://click.mlsend.com/link/…

Other News

I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all our riverside hosts who have so warmly welcomed us: Sara Steele, Christoph and Sarah Brooke, John and Carol Hackman, Benji and Christian Scrimgeour, Julian and Holly Chichester, Maria Stratton, Nick and Amanda Bentley-Buckle, Charles and Stephanie Morgan.

In January, Lizzie and I will start to put together next year’s calendar so if you would like to host post-race refreshments, do get in touch here. Thank you.

Very special thanks too, to club member Michele Sopher of The Cut Flower Farm who has home grown and arranged the most wonderful bouquets of flowers for our hosts this year: info@cutflowerfarm.co.uk. Thank you to Avril Cox, supported by Peter Bettridge, who has kindly collected them from Cut Flower Farm for us.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES – to fill

RACE 5 Race officer

RACE 6 Race Officer, Starting Platform, Tea

Looking forward to seeing you on the river next Saturday and do let me know if you fancy helping with post race refreshments. It’s a lovely opportunity to get together and ‘chew the cud’.

Yours aye,

Victoria Bonham Carter
Captain of Scows