RACE REPORT Autumn Series Race 1   31st August   11.00               .                           By Mary Montagu-Scott

Course: Ns  Cp  Ns Bs and finish at the Bucklers Wood.  Wind NE gusty

It was an unusual north easterly wind, slightly gusty as it came across the land through the trees. A good turn out and a course to take us first down river to North Bank against a strong tide then back to Club, back to North Bank again and then Blackwater before heading to the finish at the Hackmans near Bucklers Hard. 

The fleet stayed quite close, with some changing of places as we tacked up river across the tide. Jay Devonshire had got away at the start, no catching him, and the rest of us battled to catch up without success. Frustrating at times, not least because I strayed again a little too close to the western shore and touched the lovely Beaulieu mud again causing a slip in place. But no matter for on arrival at Carol and John Hackmans, any thought of that passed and we tucked into a delicious array of eats, drinks, jolly chat.  Many thanks to all who had helped, not least to Carol and John for the delicious refreshments and to Bill Osborne-Young, Lizzie Anders and Annabelle Liebat in the safety boat and Gerry and Peter Marling-Roberts for ‘platform’ and race officer.

A swift down wind sail back to Needs Ore with the tide got us all back without incident.
Another lovely day on the river. 

1  Jay Devonshire
2  Karl and Zoe Liebat
3  Andrew Duncan