Scow Borthwick Cup 6 – Sat 25th Oct

Course – As Es Bs Cp x 2

Wind – moderate North westerly

Race Officer – Tim Robinson

Starting Platform – Victoria Bonham Carter

Safety – Miranda  Knowles  and Ed Bonham Carter

Tea – Francis Robinson cakes, sausages and cucumber sandwiches and a delicious apple cake from Hicky Gibbs

Shore Support – Cassie Strang, June Kirkman

Race Report – Red Johnson

A bright, blustery end to the Autumn series, with a moderate north westerly gusting down the river and the odd patch of sunshine between passing squally winds. Tim Robinson set an excellent course of As, Es, Bs, and Cp twice round, run from the platform by Victoria Bonham Carter, with Miranda Knowles and Ed Bonham Carter on safety.

It was my first time racing without Cleo for three seasons, so (her) expectations were modest. 

Eight boats lined up for the 2pm start. Mike Doherty, Symon Stratton and John Morgan were quick off the line, with Mike first to round A, which seemed to be drifting steadily up-river until I realised it was in fact a swan. (The Race Officers like to keep us alert by locating the only white mark on the river conveniently close to their nest). Down the long run to E, Symon found just the right balance of heel and poise to slip past Mike and take the lead.

After the first leeward mark I fell out of rhythm, missing a few shifts and watching the fleet ease away. The main action was mid-fleet with Mary Montagu-Scott, John and Lucy Markby regularly swapping places while Mike and Symon mostly held at the front. Second lap, a fast downwind run with the tide underneath and a slow beat up river now against the tide – SS still in lead.

Lying fifth towards A on the last lap I decided on a Hail Mary, stuck out into the tide where I’d spotted a puff which lifted me 90 degrees past three other boats to finish 2nd.

As Mary said afterwards, “we were all second at some point”.

The afternoon finished in proper BRSC style with Francis Robinson’s excellent tea — cakes, sausages, cucumber sandwiches and Hicky Gibbs’ fine apple cake — and sunshine breaking through just in time for the results.

  1. Symon Stratton
  2. Red Johnson
  3. Mary Montagu-Scott
  4. Mike Doherty
  5. John Morgan
  6. Lucy Markby
  7. Ben & Polly Savage

Simon Gibbs Rtd.