SGSC Race Results – Sunday 9 July 2017

Race Report by Ian Nethersell OOD

A warm and sunny day greeted 5 entrants for what initially promised to be a good B course with a South Westerly blowing on the nose at a good force 2-3.

As is often the way with our fickle race ground once the start whistle blew the wind decided to do some sun bathing and early promise turned to teasing as the wind became a breeze which sniggered at the frustrations of our crews.

Tim Young in Axolotl made an excellent start even challenging James to the protruding jetty which became for some the impassable object of frustration, but first past was James with Terry paying an impromptu but welcome visit from the West Country as his crew. Next was John Bull in his laser who managed to chase down Tim Y before all 3 made it beyond the Jetty.

Alex in Phoenix struggled to make way against the flood tide, not helped by a broken tiller extension just prior to the start whistle, whilst endeavouring to give valuable instruction and experience to his novice crew, Catherine, who is also hoping to challenge for the Ladies Plate in August, (could it be we have a race after so long? Let’s hope so and we wish her luck and fun in her sailing adventures at Strand)

Tim Wellburn & his crew Simon Young in his still un-named enterprise swapped places with Alex & Catherine as they made way on a close reach only to perform perfect dosey-does which saw them drift backwards on the tide as they tacked and moved out in the stream. Never the shrinking violet or wanting to miss a party, Tim Young managed to find himself too far out and drifted back to join the dancers and then continued under the railway bridge. Under slightly different conditions from last time Tim managed to land against the Middlesex bank just below the pub to retire himself from the race.

Alex and the remaining Tim continued their flirtation with the jetty only to have their advances rebuffed as James with goose winged sails rounded the upstream mark and took the eddy along bank before ferry gliding out to pass the jetty for a second time. 10 minutes later John pulled the same move, without the goosewinging to attack his second lap which proved to be a tour-de-force and a study in patience and stoicism. This stoicism and strength of character was shared by the lower placed crews who never gave up efforts although without the much deserved luck.

The race was finished as James crossed the start/finish line after 2 laps in 49:04 and John Bull finishing his second after 1:18:18.

Alex and Catherine eventually conceded as the tide turned and even though receiving some personal instruction from James, now solo in Porpoise, Tim gave in too after not managing to pass the jetty again.

All in all a beautiful but frustrating day which did see the wind filling in at times but in hindsight may have been better as a short A but one can only make a decision in the moment and ever in the moment was the watchful safety boat crew of Michael and Dave who cleared the course before collecting Axolotl and retiring to the arch for tea and jaffa cakes.

Race Results