Scow Race 3 Report and Latest News

On the day ‘Rive Droit’ paid a visit to ‘Rive Gauche’

RACE REPORT from Andrew Duncan

With the wind gusting to Force 5, the race officers advised reefing but didn’t make it a condition of sailing. I chose a full rig, which generally meant being slower upwind but faster downwind.

The start saw Jay first over the line followed, I think by Mike Doherty, Mary Scott, myself, and Peter Marling-Roberts sailing with the sporting Avril as crew, though possibly not in that exact order.

At Blackwater, the first mark, Jay was maybe 40 yards ahead followed by me with Peter M-R and Mike in the picture: excuse me if this vague – I was too busy watching for gusts on the water ahead.

Then it was a surging broad reach and a run down to North Bank where I closed with Jay but couldn’t get through. This was the first gybe and by now the fleet was well spread out. When I dared look round it was Peter and Avril threatening in third place whereas Jay was holding his place steadily except for an untidy gybe at Gins. This was the second gybe to be followed by a third at the final mark, Pigs. I can’t remember when we last had three in a strong wind. I don’t think there was much changing places – perhaps as expected because there was little or no tacking – but the gybes, a worthy test, partly made up for this. Hard luck Red Johnson, who, on his first outing in his new scow, went over at Pigs.

It was a shame that we couldn’t race to Inchmery Hard but it was fun to party afterwards on ‘the other side’. Benji and Christian Scrimgeour were generous hosts with their wonderful caravan as a backdrop and in front of us the charming creek with Benji’s new dock on the downriver bank, a great new feature of the river.

An exceptional, lively day – everything that’s good about the BRSC, so renewed thanks to the organizers and helpers.

I remember Jay saying at our boat tuning session back in May, ‘Go and practice your gybes when it’s windy, not when it’s calm’. The fleet certainly got their practice. Hats off to everyone who took part in fairly challenging conditions. Very many thanks to Gerry Marling-Roberts for Starting, Oli Stanley as Race Officer, Charles Nicholson and Sophie Stanley on Safety and Lizzie Anders for standing in for me while I rushed our youngest son to hospital with appendicitis. Almost as exciting as 3 hairy gybes in one race.

Heart felt thanks to Benji and Christian Scrimgeour for giving the club such a warm welcome and laying on a delicious feast. I do hope a visit to ‘the other side’ can become an annual fixture in our racing calendar.

LOST PROPERTY

Please can you keep an eye out for a sailing knife dropped around Needs Ore club house belonging to Jay.

NEWTOWN CREEK RALLY 9th JULY, 10.30

An email will be sent out in the next couple of days outlining timings, scow boat preparation, what to bring and the proposed course down the river and across the Solent to Newtown Creek. So far the weather looks promising.

And remember…this is not a Race!

SEA SUNDAY SERVICE 10TH JULY, 6.30

A service at The Chandlery, Buckler’s Hard, with the Beaulieu village band, celebrating seafarers all over the world.

Yours aye,

Victoria Bonham Carter
Captain of Scows