Spring Series Race 6

Race 6 Race Report and Launch of ‘Surprise’

Dear Victoria,

Last Sunday was a very special day; the day for launching our Commodore’s new scow which celebrates her birthday later in the year. The clue is in the sail number, ‘600’!

Report by Mary Montagu-Scott

Today was the ‘big day’, the launching of my brand new Scow, made with great care and attention by John Claridge and long anticipated by me.

The big decisions were made long ago – the hull colour and later the sail colour. I wanted something bright and colourful, reflecting my happy state of mind when sailing on the Beaulieu River. So a bright Mediterranean blue and golden yellow sails. I had not given thought that this was also unconsciously the colours of Ukraine, the flags of which we are now all so aware of.

But lo! When we hoisted the main sail, what did I see but ‘LR’ on the sail instead of ‘WS’, (Wight Scow) Oh dear. This is something that has been a bit contentious for some time with the Scow Association but happily, it is now resolved. The ‘LR’ was swiftly removed with just the ‘600’ remaining.

The launch, surrounded by dear sailing friends was accompanied by a wonderful rendition by Ed BC of a specially composed poem by Tim Robinson – brilliant! but he said, ‘A I had assisted’. We then toasted ‘Surprise’ with Rum and Prosecco.

Come all ye sailors, gather round,
Hear a tale of a new boat renowned.
‘Surprise’ sets sail with Mary’s pride,
For her maiden voyage, she’ll swiftly glide.

Hoist her sails and let them fly,
‘Surprise’ will dance ‘neath the azure sky.
With Mary helming, she’ll lead the way,
Through wind and wave, to seize the day.

‘600’ emblazoned upon her sail,
Surprise’s strength will not fail.
With Mary’s courage, she’ll chart new ground
In Beaulieu’s river, there Victory’s found.

What a lovely start to my new Scow’s life on the Beaulieu River, blessed in sunshine and may I have many happy years ahead of me sailing her. Thank you to all who joined me to celebrate.

FOR SALE

For details of Mary’s previous scow and other scows for sale, please head to our website: https://brsc.site/marketplace/

RACE 6 RACE REPORT Course: As Es x 2 1500

By Peter Marling-Roberts

We had a glorious day for our race on the Beaulieu River. The wind was blowing a gentle NW force 2 – 3. Oli Stanley set us a sensible course – a beat to ‘A’ to starboard and then a run down river to ‘E’ to starboard, twice round.

Ten boats set off on time and all went well until we reached ‘A’. There we all had to contend with an extraordinarily strong ebb tide due to the huge volume of water rushing out of the sluice from the Beaulieu Pond.

Once rounded I was near the back of the fleet. Then three boats retired and I found myself still near the back of the fleet- after rounding E, I was second to last closely followed by Nick Bentley-Buckle. The other boats were so far in front that I could not tell you who was in the lead! But with the help of Mary’s tot of rum kicking in I crept along the West shore capturing a back eddy so when I reached ‘A’ I found myself miraculously second just behind Victoria and Ed BC. Following just behind me was Tim Robinson and in her beautiful new boat, Mary.

The race was won by the Bonham Carters, followed by myself then Mary, Tim Robinson and Sophie Smith, Karl and Zoey Liebat, Ben Savage and Nick BB and Keith Hutton.

A huge thanks to Oli for being our race officer, to Gerry M-R & Sophie Stanley for running the Starting Platform, to Lizzie Anders and Lucy Markby for manning, (or should I say peopling), the safety boat and Frances Robinson and Hicky Gibbs for the delicious and most welcomed ‘Michelin Star’ tea.

SUMMER SERIES HEXTALL TROPHY RACE 1 Sunday 12th May 1500

RACE OFFICER & PLATFORM Ginna Gayner

SAFETY BOAT TEAM Ian Strathcarron & Bill Vance

TEA By kind invitation of Sarah Montagu & Christoph Brooke at Brickyards. RSVP: christoph@hillbrooke.co.uk

DOWN RIVER RACE Saturday, 25th May 1300

STARTING PLATFORM Ginna Gayner & Gerry Marling-Roberts

RACE OFFICER Gerard Downes

SAFETY BOAT TEAM 1 RFF Angela & Peter Hayward-Broomfield

SAFETY BOAT TEAM 2 BH Ian Strathcarron & Bill Vance

SAFETY BOAT TEAM 3 NO Vova Karavan & Simon Gibbs

Very much look forward to seeing you on 12th May for the start of our Summer Series.