Race Report, 13th April 2025
OOD: Mary Brown
Safety Boat: Henry Brown, David Baker
Weather: Overcast, light rain, WSW, 2-4 Beaufort, 5-10 knots.
Course: A
It was Boat Race Day for Oxbridge rowers, and Cambridge made a clean sweep down below Chiswick Bridge on an overcast afternoon that deteriorated into a fine drizzle at times after our sailors’ start at 14:40.
Six boats rigged on a diminishing foreshore. Lev Kolobov, solo in Porpoise (Enterprise); Ben Chappell in Envy (Laser); Tim Young in Ait Knots (Wanderer); Olly Adams and Felicity in Spinosaurus (Mirror); Rebecca Hayes and Ella in Wagtail (Mirror); and Nick Jeffery in Eeyore (Duckling). Nick managed to capsize as he boarded Eeyore and retired, rather wet.
The rest set off on a short A-course, giving everyone a good chance to do several laps. Lev set the pace with a lap of under 5 minutes, followed by Ben (6:17) and Olly / Felicity close on his transom two seconds later. Tim followed about a minute after that, and finally Rebecca / Ella in 9 mins 25 seconds.
This was the pattern for the for the next hour of brisk sailing for all concerned. Lev and Ben finished 11 laps 1 minute 90 seconds apart with Spinosaurus about 2 minutes behind on 10 laps. Tim finished his 8 laps about a minute later, and Rebecca / Ella finished their 7 laps after another 10 minutes. Quite a challenge for the OOD: almost 50-line crossings to note on a race sheet threatened by drizzle.
There was a traffic jam outside the ramp until someone found some keys, but eventually all the boats managed to squeeze onto the boat-park around the safety fencing, as the cracks in the brickwork of the bridge become more apparent. And most had time for tea and biscuits and a chat.
First in the Handicap Cup went to Lev: first in the Polly Prize to a masterful sail by Olly and Felicity.
Next week is a late C-Course, starting at 19:00.
