Spring Series Race 4

Race Report for Saturday 13th April 2024

Scow Challenge Cup No 4

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 Challenge Cup Race Number 4

Location 10/10

Imagine if Bignalls or Friar’s Oak were hotels. God forbid, but if they were, they would have the perfect location: a quiet private river adjacent to a peaceful and beautiful village. That so much hard training, competitive behaviour and fun coexist in this tranquil setting is a minor miracle and a total joy.

Style & Character 10/10

Ten boats set out in a 15 to 17 knot westerly breeze. Alexander (helming) and I got a cracking approach to the line and would have been first over if I hadn’t bottled and persuaded Alexander to put in a quick turn. I shouldn’t have done; he knew what he was doing. Mothers, as Ed Bonham Carter has remarked in the past, you just can’t get ’em these days.

Al Fothergill had a perfect start, having cruised up through the fleet. Elizabeth and James Gedge had a poor start but a great recovery; more anon. Al, Red and Cleo Johnson and Ben Savage were all huddled at the front of the fleet and first to the mark, F to port. The rest of the fleet was also fairly bunched, although those straying too close to the trees found little wind. Lucy Markby, normally up at the front, was disadvantaged at this stage, her boat mysteriously taking on water.

Once round E, we set off on a long reach back up to A. At this stage, the fleet began to split into three groups. Red and Al remained at or near the lead, with Tim Robinson in the middle and jockeying of positions all around.

After rounding A in the lead, Red enthusiastically headed back down the river for the second lap and had to be diverted to round P. This was to the advantage of the boats behind Red, and Tim pulled away from A pursued by Al and Ben. Could he hold the lead for the next lap? Alexander and I didn’t quite make P on the first attempt and Sam Van Holte surged ahead of us. We ended the race in third place but Alexander, not blessed with a competitive streak, had elected not to bother rounding P but to carry on, so at that point our course became not a race but a fun run.

By now, the fleet was strung out. Bringing up the rear, Nick Bentley-Buckle and Keith Hutton were battling it out with Bill and Emily Vance, the Gedges were picking their way through the fleet and Sam continued to find his sailing feet – his first sail of the year.

What was hampering Elizabeth and James? They had written down last week’s course by mistake and were heroically picking off boats to climb through the fleet, even giving the leaders a fright. Ben got caught by the tide at A, couldn’t get moving and infuriatingly for him slipped several places. Tim, closely chased by Red and the Gedges held on to his long lead to finish first in a hugely popular and well-deserved win.

Service & Facilities 10/10

Across the board in British hotels, standards of service have fallen to somewhere between poor and non-existent. Hoteliers should spend time observing the platform at any BRSC race to see what good service is all about. The hooters were hooted in the right sequence and at the right time while someone on the platform looked through binoculars throughout the race, presumably checking for suspicious activity. All agreed that the course set by Ginna and Frank was superb. Table service was provided throughout the race with charm and good humour by Edward and Victoria Bonham-Carter in the Safety Boat as they whipped round the fleet, nimbly guiding errant scows towards the correct marks and taking orders for drinks and snacks which they delivered on silver salvers with professionalism and aplomb. As for Facilities, the gorgeous new Spa in Factory Field, with its sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub, not to mention the 25-metre heated pool, is an obvious bonus for post-race relaxation.

Rooms 9/10

In very light airs, the scow quickly converts to an extremely comfortable bedroom, where one can lie down, stretch out and relax, having first removed a bottle of wine and a packet of crisps from the minibar fitted in the bow. Saturday’s race, however, with its brisk breeze, did not allow for our scows to demonstrate their qualities as boutique boudoirs. Those of us who have to perch on top of the centreboard in order to operate the jib may feel that cushioning should be applied during the boats’ construction, hence the lower mark in this category.

Food & drink 10/10

Michelin stars should be awarded to the restaurant at Factory Field, where a splendid array of sandwiches and cakes awaited the hungry sailors. Huge thanks to executive chef Sally Hutton and her brigade: Amanda Bentley-Buckle and Frances Robinson.

RESULTS

Course : F(p) E(p) A(s) P(s) B(p) x 2

  1. 530 – Tim Robinson
  2. 589 – Red and Cleo Johnson
  3. 443 – Jimmy and Elizabeth Gedge
  4. 449 – Ben Savage
  5. 454 – Al Fothergill
  6. 152 – Lucy Markby
  7. 499 – Sam Van Holthe
  8. 545 – Nick Bentley-Buckle and Keith Hutton
  9. 525 – Bill and Emily Vance

Disqualified…. 358 – Alexander and Fiona Duncan

RACE 3: 7 April 2024 11.00 CANCELLED due to strong winds