SGSC Race Report 4 May 2025
Sunday 4th May brought brisk, gusty conditions to the Thames for a scheduled start time of 7pm. James prepared the safety boat, then it was agreed that the OOD, Nick J, would start the race from the safety boat, combining duties, and sailors take their own times over the finish line of a course B – allowing Zephyr to race and increase the fleet to five. It was emphasised that safety duty was to take priority over timings.
Without flags to look at, James Armitage thought the starting hooter was in fact the 3-minute warning signal so Zephyr (Enterprise) started astern of the fleet – that was initially led by Chris Greenwood and Felicia Biekarck in Distant Thunder (Leader) – but Zephyr took the opposite bank on the first downwind leg to Chiswick Staithe and overtook all four boats just before the leeward mark. Lev Kolobov in Porpoise (Enterprise) rounded in second place, Ben Chappell in Envy (Laser) in third place, Joe Armitage in Punt (another Laser) kissing Ben’s transom and Distant Thunder having slipped to fifth.
Beating to the windward mark – positioned close to the spectators in the Bull’s Head – saw more changes with Ben’s older sail making it hard to keep up with Joe, all sailors busy spilling and trimming sails as they tacked to stay in the favourable tide. 14 minutes from the start Joe led the fleet around the mark with James, Lev, Chris & Felicia following close behind, Ben rounding 5 minutes after Joe.
Positions remained the same at the second windward mark rounding, 28 minutes after the start, Envy rounding the leeward mark for the second time one minute later. On the third lap, times at the leeward mark saw Joe gybing around at 33 mins 50 secs from the start, James at 35 mins 31 secs, Lev at 37 mins 47 secs and Chris & Felicia, less than 4 minutes behind the leader, at 39 mins 37 secs.
The OOD decided to play safe – after much encouragement from Joe – and shortened the course after three laps, the chilly May breeze starting to bite and the Bull’s Head drinkers having retreated indoors. Just 20 seconds separated Joe from James, the Laser and Enterprise finishing after 44 mins 36 secs and 44 mins 56 seconds respectively. Lev finished third after 49 mins 23 seconds and Distant Thunder touched the line 52 minutes after the start, just as Envy capsized further downstream – Ben immediately righting her and getting to the finish line 1 hour, 11 minutes and 20 secs after the start.
Boats were all derigged, engine hoisted out, safety boat locked on its mooring and arch closed by 8.45pm.
Nick Jeffery OOD and SB!!
Many thanks to Nick for dual-duties, and a prompt race report. Apologies from the Master of Sums for the delay in publishing – absent on Grand Parental duties/pleasures in Edinburgh.
Next week (11th May) is another A/B course at 13:40.
HB
