Race 6 Report Borthwick Cup 2024
Saturday 2nd November
10/10 Telegraph expert rating. Beaulieu, Hampshire, England
By Fiona Duncan
I only know one way to write a review, and that is for The Telegraph, about hotels. So, with apologies to telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotels, here is my assessment of Scow Borthwick Cup Race Number 6, the final race of the 2024 season.
Location 10/10
On a day so still and the water so glassy that we wondered how we would ever get our boats to move, the Beaulieu River at Factory Field was looking as lovely as ever. Several sailors took advantage of the new changing rooms that have just sprung up alongside the Spa, while others had a quick dip in the permanently heated 25-metre pool. Despite the swathe of new five-star hotels that have opened of late in southern England, none can compete with ours for facilities, service, food and luxury.
As we rigged our boats there was one unfortunate hitch when Mike Docherty, chivalry itself, was rewarded for his kindness in helping me by having to swim extremely fast to retrieve hisboat which had sailed away on its own. Luckily, just in time for the start, a very gentle easterly breeze had made itself felt, and we set off.
Style & Character 10/10
Twelve boats started the race and, amazingly, 12 boats finished it (see below). Hearing the hooter, I crossed the line and quickly found myself substantially in the lead. “I mean, I know I’m good but do try harder” I called out to the fleet behind me, “I need you here to tell me where to go next.”
“That, Fiona” they replied “was the one-minute gun. You are over the line and need to turn round.”
It got worse. Crossing the line for real, the Race Officer (via the safety boat) told Sam van Holte and me that because we were over we should do three sixties. For the first time in my life, I immediately obeyed the Race Officer, and still managed to stay with the pack. Light Airs Lizzie was well behind me. Not her day, I thought.
There was a bit of wind on the first lap at marks F, E and B but the stretch in between was a breeze-free desert with much place changing. As the race progressed, so I slipped futherback.
On the second lap, between F and E, the sky darkened and a gust came through so fast and strong that Sam, just ahead of me, capsized. Until then, he and I had been mostly neck and neck. He was the one I wanted to beat. “How terrible for Sam” I thought, my heart bleeding as I surged into his place.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t reckoned with the brilliance of the safety boat team, Victoria Bonham Carter and Tim Robinson, nor with the sailing prowess of Sam. In no time he was upright, bailing and sailing, and though soaked to the skin he shot past me, eventually coming a highly impressive 8th.
When I eventually reached Factory Field (I was 9th) I discovered to my amazement that Light Airs Lizzie, after a race-long tussle with Mary Scott and Claudia Downes, Darren Firth, Mike Docherty and Red Johnson and daughter, had not had a bad day after all. She had won. She modestly puts her success in light airs down to her ‘furry cheeks’ (invisible to the human eye) with which she can detect the tiniest of wind shifts. Her cheeks are highly effective weapons.
Service & Facilities 10/10
Truly, the service in our hotel sailing club is world-class. On this occasion we witnessed the skill of the safety boat crew, the course setting, in difficult conditions, of the Race Officer Andrew Duncan, and the nimbleness of the onshore porters, including Peter Bettridge and Oli Stanley. On this, the last race of 2024 and the last race for Victoria as Captain of Scows, a touching award ceremony was held afterwards in which various key members of staff were honoured for their work. Displaying the remarkable no-expense-spared generosity for which the hotel-club is noted, each recipient was presented with a key ring. Mary Montagu then presented Victoria with flowers in recognition of her three years as a truly superb Captain of Scows. There was not a dry eye in the house.
Key Ring recipients were:
Andrew Dunkin Donut Duncan – Best Capsize of past 3 years
Vova Karavan and Bill Osborne-Young – Trolly Dollies
Hicky Taylor – Food & Beverage Queen
Peter Bettridge – Caretaker Extraordinaire
Ross McGinn – Head of Entertainment
Rooms 9/10
It’s generally accepted that in light airs the scow converts to an extremely comfortable hotel bedroom. This was well demonstrated in the wind-free stretch when the fleet lay back and relaxed in their king size Hypnos Pillowtop Luxury beds.Sadly, I know not why, my scow started going round in circles. I experienced room spin and was, unlike everyone else, unable to sleep.
Food & drink 10/10
The food and drink reached new heights at the post race buffet. The bacon butties, with bacon sizzling in situ, were out of this world, as were the cakes. Huge thanks to executive chefs Hicky Taylor and Francis Robinson. It is impossible to imagine a better experience in any hotel anywhere in the world than ours.
