RACE 5 and Race 4 Race Report and Update on First Aid posted by Victoria

RACE 5 Sunday, 23 October 1100 HT 1035

Starting Platform Gerry Marling-Roberts

Race Officer Frank McGinn

Safety Boat Team Andrew & Alexander Duncan

Refreshments Miranda Knowles

It seems like the changeable Autumn weather has arrived and last Saturday we were closely watching the weather forecast and the gusts on the river to see if we could race. A select number of ‘Autumn hardies’ turned up and we were delighted to be joined by 2 of our junior members, Timour and Ned.

RACE 4 Race Report – from Polly Savage

It was touch and go whether racing would go ahead last Saturday, partly due to the high winds and secondly would there be enough of us? Ben and I arrived in the boat park to hear, “we have a quorum”, but actually in the end, 6 boats took to the water. Gusty winds lead to a ‘Duncan dunking’ before the race started, so he retired gracefully but the remaining 5 boats took off on a brilliantly set course by Tim and started by Frances Robinson, for which many thanks.

Charles and Ned Nicholson led from the start and finished a very clear first. They were followed most of the way round by Mary and her crew Sophie Smith in Moti, being hounded by the us in ‘sCow’. Challenging and gusty winds led to hairy moments in all boats but after a poor decision by the Savages on the last mark we just pipped ‘Moti on the line (apologies Mary). Red Came in 4th and Timour crossed 5th.

Many thanks to the safety boat team of Edward and Victoria Bonham Carter whose work was mainly done before the start but it could have been so much more!

FIRST AID RESPONSE & DEFIBRILLATOR

As you know, this year we have been reviewing the club’s First Aid response. We now have a portable defibrillator which, depending on the season, travels between Needs Ore and RFF and which will be housed at 7 Needs Ore Cottages for the ‘off season’ months, should you require it. We’ve organised training courses to ensure that there are always at least 2 qualified First Aiders on the bank for every event. Special thanks to Elizabeth Gedge who has expertly overseen the updating of the First Aid boxes at the Point and at RFF and the ‘grab bag’ for club expeditions. Next year we hope to run a refresher safety boat – power boat course so do let me know if you are interested in this.

Very much looking forward to seeing the ‘Autumn Hardies’ for a brisk sail next Sunday at 1100.

Yours aye,

Victoria