Scow Race 6 Report and Down River Race Logistics

After another very helpful training session from Jay Devonshire, this time on ‘boat tuning and improved performance’, it was on to the water to put into practice what we had learnt …or not.

RACE 6: RACE REPORT FROM JAY DEVONSHIRE

At last, a firm breeze from the South West promised some less fluky racing than our recent Easterlies. Our bold Race Officer, June Kirkman, seized the opportunity, and sent the ten starters round the bend,…..to Oxleys via ‘F’, both rounded to port.
Good foresight predicted that the Oxleys buoy might not be there, but our trusty safety boat, manned by Ed and Victoria neatly transferred another mark to the zone before the fleet arrived.

The start saw several scows vying closely for the favoured West Bank position, Nick Bentley-Buckle was first away, and the west shore paid despite the holes in the wind. ‘F’ was drifted around and the breeze filled in for a patchy reach to Oxleys, where from my 5th place position I saw Simon Knott and Bill Osborne-Young rounding, followed by Nick and Peter Marling-Roberts. At this point I was slightly regretting dispensing a few tips too many in the ‘Tuning’ briefing before the race!

The return leg, to ‘A and P’, to be rounded to starboard, turned into a short beat just before Carpenters Dock with the East bank favoured by a slightly steadier lifted breeze. I was favoured by the shifts and slipped through to the lead, which was held to the finish, although the breeze headed on the approach to ‘A’, necessitating a few tacks. Bill held on to 2nd place, and Mary Montagu-Scott made a good improvement from an earlier 6th to finish 3rd.

Young sailors were in evidence, with Beatie crewing her mother Lucy Markby to 4th place, and Timor Karavan with Poppy Markby crewing made 8th.

We were rewarded with Sue Markby’s delicious scones, a wonderful cake from Mary and all washed down with reviving tea served up by Erica Neve. ‘Thank you’ to Gerry Marling-Roberts and Sophie Stanley for adeptly starting and finishing us.

A big ‘thank you’ to all our volunteer helpers, please keep volunteering, it is really appreciated.

DOWN RIVER RACE – SATURDAY, 28TH MAY, 1030

REGISTRATION : Please email Gerry Marling-Roberts: gmarlingroberts@hotmail.com

STARTING PLATFORM: Ginna Gayner & Gerry Marling-Roberts

RACE OFFICER: James McGill

SAFETY BOAT TEAM: Sam van Holthe, Peter & Angela Broomfield, Vova Karavan, Simon Gibbs, Oli & Sophie Stanley

REFRESHMENTS: Sarah Karsten, Miranda Knowles & Gillian Devonshire

All contributions to the refreshment table welcome. Thank you.

This year we are hosting a leg of the Traveller’s Trophy race within our Down River Race which means RFF will be a lot busier than in previous years. The cricket pitch will be available for parking. To avoid disturbance of nesting birds at the Point and of Needs Ore residents we are organising a bulk move of trollies down to the Club House on Friday, 6:30pm. Please take advantage of this to ease congestion in RFF on Saturday. If you would like your trolley and cover taken to the Point, please leave them by the Donkey Hut, clearly marked, by Friday 6pm.

And so we come to the close of our Spring Series at the top of the river. With the Down River Race already upon us next Saturday, preparations have been under way to get the Club House and slip way ready for you. A few weeks ago we had a ‘Hard Scrub’ working party up the point.

On the slip way, we had the officers – Richard Chitty, Peter Hayward-Broomfield and Sam van Holthe with the pressure hoses and the orderlies – Edward Bonham Carter and Tom Dykes as the scrubbers. In the Club House, on team Marigold – Ross McGinn, Gerard Downes, Cassie and myself. No spiders left behind. Many thanks to the ‘Hard Scrub party’. It was a great team effort and a lot of fun. See photos on website

Look forward to seeing on Saturday,

Yours aye,

Victoria