SGSC Race Report 12 October 2025
SGSC Race Report 12 October 2025
A sunny evening race. There was very light wind from ENE and so from behind the houses along Strand: a slight back-draught however blew one way or another or sometimes not at all. An A course was set from a Bell & Crown start to half-way down to the railway bridge.
James (Enterprise) made slow and patient progress keeping close to the bank, and was the first to round the downstream and upstream buoys and complete a lap. Rob (Enterprise) headed out into the strong flood tide in search of more wind, which looked initially to pay off but in the event he completed his first lap a few minutes later; he almost immediately fouled a mooring buoy and took several minutes to clear himself, after which progress was so slow that he was unable to go round again.
Chris (Leader) rounded the downstream mark but found it difficult to turn back round the one upstream; he had a losing battle against the tide before resorting to paddling to avoid Kew bridge. Tamir (Laser) managed better but needed several attempts out in midstream to reach the line.
Meanwhile, James finished a second lap, and although only a little more than half an hour had gone by, he and the others were progressing so slowly that it seemed wise to finish the race. This enabled Sam (Wayfarer) to be the second to finish, after one lap taking three-quarters of an hour; and to be followed by a finally successful Tamir. Keith (Laser) also sailed but did not complete a lap.
All the two-handed boats were fully crewed, so crews also deserve credit: I am sorry that I did not take a list of names. And thanks to Andy who managed the safety boat unassisted.
Nick Floyer OOD
