It was a perfect day for a B course, a NE force 2/3 wind blowing the boats down the Chiswick reach against the incoming tide and then a good beat back to the line with the tide. A late start was made because all hands tried to help Frankie rig David Jones ’s old Solo. All in vain when the rudder was mislaid. (Later found behind some other boats in the arch).

Not to worry, the fleet managed one long lap to Chiswick quay and back. Three boats set off: Chris and Felicia (Distant Thunder, Leader), Tim (Ait Knots, Wanderer) and Keith (Kaia, Laser). The first leg was all about choice of course: less tide but less wind in by the bank, or more wind but more tide in the middle of the river. Tim sailed the perfect line – not too close to the bank but not far enough out to hit the tide, to get to the Chiswick Marina mark first. Followed closely by Keith who had recovered from a luff into the tide by Chris and Felicia. On the beat back Chris was rapidly closing on the leading two and just got past them on the Railway bridge mark due to a fluffed mark rounding by Tim caused by a rush of adrenaline as he saw the line honours tantalisingly in front of him. Well sailed.

Sadly, OOD Heather was obliged to call it a day at only one lap.  This was partly due to the late start (no more time to do a second lap), partly as the river was ‘closed’ by the PLA for the Vesta Veterans Head of the River that fully occupied the river below Strand End, but also because the tide was beginning to turn.  

Well done to Club member Tom Broadhurst for competing in the Vets Head. 

Rob Adams (Safety Boat and reporter)

The good news is that the 2023 programme has been agreed at the AGM and OOD and Safety Boat duties have been allocated in the usual manner. Members could choose their slots at the AGM and others have been allocated more or less at random. If the duties you have been given don’t suit you, please make arrange a swap with another member. The programme is on the website can be found here and we’ll send paper copies and contact lists to members as soon as possible.

The less good news is that we are increasing our membership and site fees to keep pace with rents, fuel costs and other things. It’s the first time in at least 10 years.

Full family membership increases from £50 to £55

Boat park fees increase from £130 to £140

Other fees (social membership, kayak/canoe storage, trailer park) remain the same.

The increases were discussed and agreed at the AGM and come into effect immediately, for the 2023 season.

Details of payment were in the newsletter, but to remind you:

Account name: SGSC or Strand on the Green Sailing Club,

Sort Code: 60 05 30

Account number: 04110773

Our big social event of the season is on Saturday 4th March 2023

at the Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club, Old Deer Park, Twickenham Road, TW9 2SB

it starts at 7:30pm for the meal, always delicious, at 8:00pm

Dancing, often vigorous, is to the Craigievar Ceilidh Band

Tickets £55 per head (£45 for students)

Contact Marian Armitage for details and tickets: 0208 994 4527 or armitagew4@gmail.com

Not to be missed. All welcome. Dress up and let your hair down.

                 There was no Covid to contend with this season: we started on 6th March and finished, later than usual, on 13th November with our 29th and final race.   The average number of starters for the season was 5.14 which is – average for SGSC.  And there were an encouraging number of newcomers out on the water, both helming and crewing.

             James Armitage (again) was first in everything in his gleaming GRP Enterprise, Zephyr.   He reveals almost all his secrets in the latest Newsletter (soon to be delivered).  His old wooden Enterprise, Porpoise, carried Lev Kolobov to second place in the Polly Prize and third in the Class Cup (Big Boats).  Chris Greenwood, In Distant Thunder (Leader) crewed by Felicia Biekarck took second place in the Class Cup (Big Boats) and third in the Handicap Cup.  Rob Adams  (Laser, Phoebe) was second equal in the Handicap Cup and third in the Polly Prize.  Nick Floyer (flo, Gull) was first in the Class Cup (Little Boats) and second equal with Rob in the Handicap Cup.   Tim Young (Ait Knots, Wanderer) was second in the Class Cup (Little Boats) and Ian Nethersell (Backwash, Vibe) was third.

  The Ladies Plate was not formally contested this year, but informally  it should be awarded to Felicia who helmed Distant Thunder while Chris was forging his way across the Atlantic.  She was our only ‘Lady’ helm.  The Strand Senior Salver (for helms over 75) went to Nick Floyer; and Keith Clarke was awarded Paul’s Prize for Persistence, given to the helm who has sailed most races without having won any  trophy.

HB

Second time lucky. After the cancellation of last weeks race it was a relief to see that this Sunday gradually turned into a benign afternoon. Sunshine and autumn colours, the only thing missing was a consistent wind. The start, at 1200, was promising with a steady ESE at F2, gusting at F3, but it tailed off after an hour or so.

Eight boats rigged and from the start James Armitage with Felicia Bierkark (Enterprise) took the lead with Rob Adams (Laser) in attendance. It was a beat down to Chiswick Bridge amongst quite a crowd of rowers and the vigorous tacking continued around the Barnes bends and on to Corney Reach. The perfect sailing wind gradually died at this stage. James managed to keep his momentum and led by about 300m with Rob apparently becalmed on the Middlesex bank. The Browns (Enterprise) followed Rob with a pair of Lasers (Ben Chappell and Keith Clarke) and Ian Nethersell (Vibe) close behind. The tail enders – Tim Young (Wanderer) and Toby (Laser) were by then just emerging from Barnes Bridge. Forward progress was provided in the main by the ebb tide.

In consultation with James, Nick Jeffery (and family) in the safety boat dropped a buoy just at the downstream end of Chiswick Eyot. James rounded the mark and started a goose-winged return, followed at some distance by Rob. The following pack of the Browns, Ben, Keith and Ian swapped places many times as the tide brought them down to the mark, but Ben proudly rounded the mark in third place.

The wind at that point died to the extent of just being enough to master the dying ebb tide and the return upriver was much slower than the downstream leg. From the point of view of the middle of the fleet James was soon out of sight beyond Barnes Bridge and we thought that was the last we’d see of him. Gradually, as the middle pack caught up with Rob, the flooding tide brought Tim and Toby up to them and, once through Barnes Bridge we were surprised to see James almost within reach, apparently becalmed, in the approaches to Chiswick Bridge. And so as the flood tide compressed the fleet, James finished at the Railway Bridge seven minutes ahead of Rob, who was two seconds ahead of the Browns, who were one minute and 18 seconds ahead of Keith; 15 seconds ahead of Ben; 35 seconds ahead of Toby; 54 seconds ahead of Tim. The handicap sums made a significant difference to that finishing order, except for the triumph of James (see below).

At least there were plenty of bodies to haul the boats back up the muddy foreshore and into the arch. And there, miraculously, was a barbeque of sausages and a feast of other contributions: Margaret Berger’s soup, Mary B’s flapjack, Heather Adams’ chocolate cakes, Polish dumplings, Steve Newell’s excellent home brew, and much else. Andy Ross, as well as being OOD, had organised and lit the barbeque while the sailors toiled and drifted on the tranquil river, for which many thanks.

And there was plenty of good company of all ages to celebrate the end of the season, including nonagenarians Marthe Armitage (founder member) and Margaret Berger.

HB

We cancelled the scheduled last race on 4th November because of a lousy weather forecast and a horrible start to the day. In fact the rain stayed away, but so did the wind. So it would have been a drift at best.

We are hoping for better luck this Sunday, 13th November. It will be a D-course (Hammersmith and back) with a start at 12:00.

Beer and Bangers will follow, starting at 14:00.

All welcome.

A dry, but warm afternoon, D course. Variable wind conditions – SE 2 gusting 4.

Four boats assembled on the foreshore.

Felicia and daughter Tamina in Chris’s Leader and three lasers: Rob in Phoebe, Keith in Kaia and Toby (guest) in unnamed Ema’s boat. The boats rigged with Toby a welcomed visitor to Strand being kindly assisted by Rob.

All boats managed to make the start of the D course. Race commenced 12.45pm.

 A smart quick start was made with Felicia racing into the lead, on the Surrey Reach, closely followed by Rob and Keith and Toby. Unfortunately, Keith on the Middlesex Bank ran aground just after the Strand End Pier losing him ground.

All boats passed through Chiswick Bridge OK with Rob breaking into the lead.

Amazingly, through the Bridge the boats were astonished to be greeted by a seal. The race continued with the seal unconcerned by the boats. In fact Tim in the safety boat, approached the seal and entered into a one way conversation – but without a reply.

The race continued in the same order through Barnes Bridge and on to the downstream buoy which Tim had laid, wisely, just short of the Corinthian Sailing Club, opposite Chiswick Eyot.

With the wind gusting, both the Lasers of Toby and Keith capsized. Keith 5 times but managed to continue without a concern. Toby capsized once but a dry capsize, no problem.

After rounding the downstream buoy and recovering from the capsizes etc the race conditions were more favourable with the wind and tide with them back to Strand.

The race order remained the same back to Strand – Rob leading, followed by Felicia and Tamina with Toby and Keith at the rear. Everyone enjoyed the sail.

The stars were Felicia and Tamina, well sailed. Plus, of course Tim and the Seal.

The handicap calculations (below) gave the winners Handicap Points to Toby and Class and Polly Prize to Rob. Felicia was second in the Class and Polly points.

Next week is the last race of the season (an A-course) at 11:20, to be followed in traditional style by Beer and Bangers at around 14:00.   All are welcome.

John Bull (OOD)

What an unexpected warm and sunny day for our race this Sunday! The Thames path was, as usual, filled with a cheerful crowd and at 13:00 five crews met at the Club ready to sail. Kirsty, who recently joined, courageously tried his new Solo but decided it was best to join the race another time. We therefore started with four boats and James Armitage and his crew, young Tamase, in Zephyr immediately took the lead.

Following Zephyr, a skilled Robert Adams with his Laser contended with Chris Greenwood and Felicia Bierkark in Chris’ Leader and proceed well ahead of them from the first lap. Nick Floyer in his Gull had an unfortunate start being trapped in the ropes of an abandoned inflatable dinghy but did not despair and beautifully set off at last. 

The race ended at about 3pm with James leading in 4 laps, followed by Robert, Chris and Felicia and finally Nick, who managed to run two laps in just over an hour.