Be warned. The rules for parking at Strand on the Green have changed. Formerly there were no restrictions at the weekend in SotG and the surrounding roads. As of last weekend there is, in effect, no weekend parking for non-residents between Kew Bridge and the Railway Bridge, and the adjoining roads.
But you can still park on SotG and adjoining roads south-east of the Railway Bridge (Magnoliia, Loraine, Riverview etc.) at the weekend.
A dry, sunny, windless Sunday afternoon with an Easterly wind blowing 4 but increasing to 6 Knots for short bursts. Because of the lack of wind and its direction it was decided to change from a “B” Course to a short “A”. The course was laid by Enoch and Andy in the safety boat, with a “Zoffany House” start line and buoys upstream of the Bell and Crown and at the upstream end of the PLA grid.
Amazingly, 11 Boats assembled on the foreshore, just like the old days.
4 Enterprises, Zephyr (James and Ruth), Porpoise (Lev and David), Big Polly (Henry and Mary), Ixion (Tim W and crew), and one Leader – Distant Thunder (Chris and crew) .
2 Lasers, Phoebe (Rob) and Envy (Ben).
Together with the little boats, Ait Knots (Tim Y), Pacman (Jane), Tonic (Leona) and the delightful tan sails of Eeyore (Nick with 3 crew).
The start line was crowded and confused with the lack of wind giving minimal control. The whistle was blown and the flags were dropped at 13-00. James quickly found the wind and sped away closely followed by Rob. Others were slow off the mark with some getting caught in the vegetation growing in the river close to the towpath and others struggled with the tide and the lack of wind.
James and Rob made the 1st lap in 5.56 and 7.04 respectively. The other Enterprises and Ben’s Laser followed 12-14mins after for the 1st lap. 1st lap for the little boats was – Tim Y in 23.26, Jane and Leona 40.10 and 40.12 respectively. Eeyore struggled to stay over the start line for most of the race, which was expected with such light winds and eventually retired.
James continued to lap at about 6-7 mins until he finished after 9 laps in 61.27. During the race Lev and Henry were very close for the first 3 laps, but Lev eventually lapped Henry and they finished together on 8 laps and 7 laps in 66.46 and 66.05. Chris (Leader) and Tim W in his Enterprise finished in a similar time to Lev and Henry, 66.57 and 67.08, completing 6 and 4 laps respectively.
Rob and Ben in their Lasers completed 7 laps in 64.29 and 6 laps 68.58 resp.
Tim Y finished 4 laps in 67.56, Leona 2 laps in 72.15 and Jane 1 lap 40.10.
A difficult day for the little boats but a fine sunny afternoon and a brilliant turn out.
Thanks to Enoch and Andy on the safety boat.
OOD John Bull
It should have been a Gins Weekend according to the draft programme and that is possibly why only two boats decided to race. It was also a Bank Holiday weekend and rather late in the day.
The weather was cloudy but dry with a steady-ish north wind that the Met Office said was 8 mph (bottom of F3) at Kew Gardens. After some discussion we decided on a long A-course but starting at Zoffany House. The top mark was set at the Bell and Crown, well downstream of the Kew Bridge wind-shadow, with the bottom mark at the City Barge, and with a down-wind, against-the-tide start.
James Armitage (crewed by Emanuela) in the newest Enterprise afloat and Tim Wellburn (crewed by Emma) in the oldest, both decided to start on the far side of the PLA moorings where the wind was clearer than on the Strand side. It was a run down to the bottom mark, with the usual diversions for capricious wind shifts, and a beat or a fine reach back, usually also on the far side of the PLA moorings, to make the turn at the top mark. James led Tim by less than a minute at the first lap, even after Tim had taken the gamble of staying on the Strand side after his first Bell and Crown turn. It almost looked as if the gamble would pay off, but he was caught by a mini doldrum at the downstream end of the moorings. Thereafter both boats did what looked like a risky chicane after the top mark to catch the freer wind in the middle of the river.
James gradually increased his lead as the race progressed as Tim was seen to have problems with a newly-rigged kicker that lost him some headway. James finished seven laps in 4 minutes over the hour and Tim completed 6 laps about 6 minutes later.
At the launch Andy Ross tentatively introduced Comma to the water after a two-year repair job and declared her watertight. At well over 50 years old she is the oldest Enterprise in the Club (sail number 12,130), even older than Tim’s (sail number 19,286). When can we hope to see her sail?
Thanks to Mary Brown for officiating from Zoffany House, and thanks to David for company and heavy-lifting in the safety boat.
Dear Sailors,
This Sunday the club had planned an outing to Gins Farm on the Beaulieu River. An alternative (A) course starting at 18:10 has also been pencilled in. I’m aware that many people are away or may have other engagements planned for the bank holiday weekend, so please can you confirm using the email below that you definitely will be turning up.
Chris Greenwood
Duty Chaser
A dry, sunny, breezy Sundav aftemoon with a North Westerly wind predicted blowing 4 but gusting 14 knots. A ′′C′ course was programmed and was accompanied by a strong tide flowing through Kew Bridge.
5 Boats assembled on the foreshore, being reduced to 4 when Chris in Distant Thunder experienced a problem and decided to withdraw.
The 4 boats, Porpoise (Lev and David), Ait Knots (Tim), Envy (Ben) and Pacman (Jane) headed off early to Kew Bridge with the safety boat in attendance. All 4 boats passed through the Bridge without a problem.
As OOD, l set up on the towpath in amongst the trees with greatly restricted vision.
The race start was set at 14:40 and the boats had to suffer a long wait in a fast tide and fickle wind conditions. This resulted, when the wind dropped, in some boats getting swept over the start line. The safetv boat assisted and brought some boats back over the start while others stemmed the tide.
The 6-minute start procedure commenced, but unfortunately 2min,15secs before the signal to start was given, the tide and/or the fleet decided to start, with confusion on the water. This resulted in all the boats being over the start-Iine before the two flags were lowered and the start whistle blown.
The only boat to stem the tide and tack back over the start line was Porpoise – Lev and David Iaughing as thev managed it.
Sam and Dave in the safety boat told me afterwards that the race continued up to the buoy off the London Apprentice pub but then haIted as the tide was so strong. I am toId a beer was taken.
As time marched on, the OOD, hidden in the tree-covered towpath, asked cyclists, runners and walkers with their dogs ”have you seen any sails?” “Sails?” they said – they thought l was mad.
Eventually a blue sail appeared through the trees. It was Lev and David in Porpoise, timed in at 87min,36 secs. The others (strictly speaking over the line at the start) were timed in as Ait Knots 92min,42; Envy 93min, 28sec and Pacman 96min, 5sec. The Master of Sums, in keeping with SGSC tradition, agreed that their times should stand, with an addition of the 2min,15sec that they jumped the gun. The charitable view was that they were confused by the strength of the tide, the invisibility of the OOD, and the urging-on of the safety boat.
A Iong day. With thanks to Sam, Dave and guests in the safety boat.
OOD J.A.E.Bull.
Here are the results of Sunday’s race. I am assured that a report is on its way. Meanwhile, congratulations to Ben Chappell on a second successive win in the Handicap series.
28/29/30 August 2021
!!! IT’S TME TO CONFIRM & BOOK !!!
Dear members,
I now need to confirm with Royal Southampton Yacht Club how many of us will be attending Gins Farm over the August bank holiday.
Basic itinerary
Meet at Gins Farm Saturday morning.
Breakfast
Go sailing and/or canoeing.
Meal at Gins Farm clubhouse Saturday evening.
Meet at Gins Farm Sunday morning.
Breakfast
Morning activities
Lunch
Afternoon activities.
Evening meal
Monday is a free day; return home early or do some sightseeing
Please note:
You will need to book your own accommodation be it B&B, hotel or campsite.
We need a least 16 people to book the evening meal but breakfast can be booked individually.
If you plan to attend I need you to confirm how many will be in your party and attending the evening meals and whether you want to borrow a dinghy or if you will bringing your own aquatic transport.
Below is the original announcement for those who have questions.
Ian
Gins weekend – 28/29/30 August 2021
It is with great pleasure I can announce the reinstatement of our much loved Gins weekend and confirm the above dates over the August bank holiday weekend.
For our members who have not been before:
Gins Farm is the clubhouse of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club (RSYC) on the Beaulieu River just outside the New Forest (Post Code: SO42 7XG). Other than in recent years this weekend has been on our calendar since the 60s. This weekend is open to all members and their guests.
There is normally a small contingent of SGSC members yachts or chartered boats which can be moored alongside or put on one of the visitor buoys down river. (payment to Beaulieu River HM)
Dinghies are towed down from Strand or can be borrowed (for a nominal fee) from RSYC. Currently available are Wanderers, Lasers, Toppers and Picos. Dinghies towed can be left on site during our rally.
Canoes can be borrowed too but these of course are easily transportable from Strand.
Camping on site is no longer allowed but local to Gins are Roundhill campsite, Lepe Meadows campsite and Lepe Beach campsite.
Dinner is available and bookable in advance for numbers over 16 (I have the menu and it is mouth-wateringly good) and various breakfast options for bookings over 12 people.
There is access to changing, lavatory and shower facilities on the Gins site.
Outline itinerary (subject to weather and tides)
Friday pm: yacht and early arrival possible (HW Portsmouth 1544 LW 2045)
Saturday morning: Breakfast, rig and launch to explore the river with lunch perhaps at Bucklers Hard or down river overlooking the nature reserve. Venturing out on The Solent with dinghies and canoes is dependent on safety cover and conditions.
Saturday evening: Meal in the clubhouse.
Sunday morning: Breakfast then day sailing on the Solent either to Alum Bay/Keyhaven (by The Needles) with lunch in Newtown Creek or exploring the forts to the east with lunch in Osbourne Bay (by Cowes). Some people may choose to stay out and overnight at anchor.
Monday morning: Breakfast and spend the morning on the river before packing up and returning for home.
For now I only need expressions of interest but would ask they be more likely than not likely as RSYC need an idea of numbers. Also the numbers in your party and what vessels you may be taking to the water on, or would like to take to the water on.
I look forward to hearing from those of you interested.
Ian
SGSC River Picnic 16th June
We are organising a river picnic on Wednesday 16th June.
David Jones will be taking the safety boat and Tim Young will be taking his dinghy with an outboard. Others will be taking their dinghies / kayaks up the river by wind/paddle power.
We will meet at the club to launch between 1800 and 1830 to get under Kew Bridge before the river gets too high, and we will sail in convoy to some suitable spot on the shore. The London Apprentice is one option. Return before sunset.
High water is at 19:22 and sunset is almost as late as it gets: 21:19
Bring you own food and drink.
The weather looks perfect.
Enjoy
It was another day of glorious sunshine on the river but, alas, very little wind.
Seven boats launched and a short A-course was set with a start opposite Zoffany House and a downstream start. The downstream mark was just upstream of the drying dock and the upstream mark was at the Bell and Crown. The only incident on the start was that James Armitage (sailing with daughter Ruth) was over the line at the hooter, mistakenly believing it to be an upstream start. He quickly recovered.
Chris (Leader) with Ema as crew was first away and around the downstream mark, followed by Rob Adams (Laser) and then John Bull (Laser). At the end of the first lap Rob was first followed by Chris and then John. In the fluky breeze there was quite a gathering of boats manoeuvring for position at the downstream mark, but by going around the outside James managed to get ahead of the bunch and so was first at the second lap followed closely by John and then Rob. John stuck close to James for three more laps as they overtook the rest of the fleet and completed 5 laps. The OOD took pity on them in the trying conditions and finished the leader after just under 50 minutes. Rob finished four laps in 51 minutes followed by an undistinguishable bunch of John (5 laps), Chris (4 laps) and Ben Chappell (Laser, 3 laps) on 55 minutes 35 seconds. Jane Watkins (Gull, 3 laps) followed them about 5 seconds later. Nick Jeffery, crewed by daughter and dog in their charming red-sailed Duckling resorted to an oar at a relatively early stage and thus retired from the race.
Thanks to David Jones and Tim Young in the safety boat for making sure no one drifted back to Kew Bridge.
HB
News from Nick Floyer
I was camping and sailing with my family on the Norfolk Broads last week. Stepping ashore, I overbalanced and fell into shallow water. On the way down, I hit my side on the gunwale of the boat, broke six ribs and punctured a lung. I am just back from amazing care in Norwich hospital.
As you can imagine, I shall not be able to return to sailing at Strand for a while. I have decided in principle to sell Tonic, my Lightning 368 dinghy. She is an old boat but perfectly sound and everything works. She has two sets of spars, all recent, and two sails, one being new and unused. The Lightning is an ideal boat for a lightweight single-hander: self-draining, pivoting centreboard, sail on a halyard. She is amazingly fast in some conditions. So meanwhile, if anyone would like to use her or try her out, that can be arranged.
I hope that this will not be my last boat at Strand, but I may need to find something more sedate. I shall continue to sail elsewhere with my family in our various small boats. I learned to sail from my father in the Straits of Johore at the age of eight, seventy-two years ago; now my four children have families of their own. All four are experienced sailors, both my sons being Yachtmasters, one the volunteer skipper of the Cornish Maritime Trust’s mackerel driver “Barnabus”, the other Lt Cmdr RN. In Norfolk, a good time was had by all, except me.
Nick