OOD: Leona Shepherd

Safety Boat: James Armitage with Kieran Biekrack (crew)

Weather: Bright with strong gusty WNW winds. 

Course: A (the planned C course was changed due to strong winds)   

Start: 13:10  HWKB:14.10    Wind  WNW 14/ with gusts >30mph

3 boats launched with Ben Chappell in Envy (Laser), Felicia Biekrack and Paco in Distant Thunder (Leader) and Rebecca Hayes in Wagtail (Mirror). Following a few last minute repairs/improvements the boats launched and were whizzing up and down enjoying the wind against tide experience. 

All boats tested different positions in the river to optimise the conditions. It was neck and neck on the first leg with Felicia and Paco, on Distant Thunder, taking the lead at the end of the 1^st lap, with Ben, on Envy, close behind by only 20seconds. Wagtail, unfortunately, capsized while on the return leg of the first lap and, despite getting righted while in the water, retired. Distant Thunder then developed a commanding lead on lap 2 crossing the line a full minute ahead of Envy. On the 3^rd lap, Distant Thunder slowed and Envy accelerated, it was getting exciting!! However, it was not to last and on lap 4, after 3 capsizes while rounding the downstream buoy, Envy eventually retired. This left Distant Thunder with Felicia and Paco, to complete the 4 lap course unchallenged and the race ended in strong winds after 42minutes as the pace rounding the upstream buoy  was quite exciting. The OD apologies that there are no photos from the race. 

Good fun was had, even by the soggy but happy sailors!

Leona(OOD)

David Jones did the OOD honours for an A-course on Bank Holiday Monday, starting at 15:30 in glorious sunshine with a variable breeze from the South. There were four competitors: Andy Ross with Enoch Rodriguez in Comma (Enterprise) – first outing this season ; Lev and Inna Kolobov in Porpoise (Enterprise); Felicia Biekarck and daughter in Chris’ Distant Thunder (Leader); and Sam Shemtob solo in SY2 (Wayfarer). Lev and Felicia had a close race throughout the hour with Felicia in the lead for four laps before being overtaken by Lev for the last two laps. They finished about one minute apart. Andy managed three laps in the same time with Enoch busily bailing throughout, and Sam with a reef in his main brought up the rear in just over one hour. David Baker, from the safety boat, posted some lovely photos on the WhatsApp group.

Next week is an A or B course at 17:40.

No race report (yet) but all involve posted that they had a good time on the lovely C-course.

And congratulations to Rebecca for claiming top points in each of the three series. That’s a characteristic of the C and D courses where the little boats benefit by having the tide under them all the way.

Race report 3^rd August 2025

Course: D,  OOD: Olly Adams,  Safety Boat: David Baker;   Start: 16:30      Wind  WSW 14/19knots, 4/5 Beaufort (according to the Met Office in Kew Gardens)

Arriving at SotG on Sunday I was surprised that the tide was well out and on checking found that low tide was around 17:15.  Never having done a D course before I wasn’t expecting that!  In any case we managed to launch four boats and the SB (on rollers down the ‘beach’). The race started about 10 mins late with a plan to head as far as Chiswick Eyot. Unfortunately wind and tide were against us in the early part of the race, and progress was slow. Sam Shemtob, in his first time in a laser (Keith Clarke’s Kaia) slowly started to fall back from James Armitage (in ‘Zephyr’, Enterprise, crewed by the youngest Biekark),  Felicia Biekark (in Joe Armitage’s Laser ‘Punt’) and Ben Chappell in his Laser, ‘Envy’, who were pretty much neck and neck heading down to Chiswick Bridge with the lead changing several times. The wind dropped after the bridge and the sailing to Barnes Bridge was slow going. By this time Sam was well behind the others and decided to retire and head back to SotG. We were already 35 mins into the race, so I decided to turn us at Chiswick Bandstand. By this stage James had decided to take the Surrey Bank which proved to be a decisive factor in him taking the lead at the turn and with wind and tide in his favour he soon pulled away from the others. The sail back to SotG was a lot quicker as the tide came in but the race still did last 15 mins longer than planned, with James finishing first ahead of Felicia and Ben in third place. All enjoyed the day and the race, I chalked up my first D course in the SB and there were smiles all round back in the clubhouse.

David Baker

At the start of the race the four dinghies and the SB had a close encounter with one of the smaller tourist cruisers.  The fleet was heading downstream with the tide, beating into the light SWW wind.  The cruiser came up fast behind them and gave a long blast on its horn.  It had to slow down fast and probably put its engine in reverse. It was in shallowing water towards the bank and was probably ‘limited in its ability to manoeuvre’ with the tide pushing downstream and Olly, from his vantage point on the foreshore notes that it was “Worth making a reminder that even though there is a general Colregs rule that power gives way to sail, the Colregs state (and they apply on tidal Thames) that vessels constrained by draft or commercial ferries have a right of way. There is also an amendment to the Colregs (Art 27 Port of London Thames Byelaws 2012) that gives 20m+ vessels priority. Finally, there are exemptions to Colregs for crossing the fairway. This shouldn’t happen too often as we will be in the fairway with the tide and out of the fairway without the tide, but vessels crossing the fairway shouldn’t impede vessels proceeding along the fairway”.  So the general SGSC rule is: ‘keep out of the way of everything’. 

Olly Adams

Next week is a C-course at 15:40.

Race Report 27 July 2025

A cloudy day for a B course, with a reasonable showing of five boats, starting in very light winds.

I mistakenly started the six-minute countdown one minute early, and as a couple of boats were not yet close to the finish line, took the decision to do a seven and three minute countdown, rather than the usual six and three, in order to start at the correct time and not unduly penalise the later arrivals.  Unfortunately, this decision could not be communicated to the sailors, who were left confused as to what was going on. Apologies and lesson learned, the countdown will never again be adjusted once it has begun!

 James Armitage/Felicia Bierkark (Zephyr, Enterprise) and Lev/Inna Kolobov (Porpoise, Enterprise) kicked off neck and neck over the starting line, with Lev pulling away from James, Keith (Kaia, Laser) in third place, Rebecca Hayes (Wagtail, Mirror) in fourth, and Nick Floyer (flo, Gull) trailing in final position. 

Some 10 minutes into the first lap, the wind picked up enough to make for a good race.  At the end of the first lap, James/Felicia had overtaken Lev/Inna by a full minute, a lead which he consolidated over the next three laps, winning the race almost five minutes ahead of Lev.  

In third place was Keith who maintained a good position throughout, completing four laps just 90secs behind Lev.  

An interesting battle played out for the 4th and 5th places, with Nick overtaking Rebecca during their first lap, and starting the second just 20s ahead of her.  By the start of their third and final lap Rebeccas had once again overtaken Nick.  The boats were neck and neck coming into the home straight, with Rebecca beating Nick over the finish line by a mere 11secs.  

Many thanks to Bob, Russ and Charlie for safety boat duties and Ella who was a very helpful OOD’s assistant. 

Sam Shemtob, OOD

The Handicap calculations made significant change to the winners:  Rebecca won the Handicap points ahead of Keith and then Nick;  James and Rebecca won the Big Boats and Little Boats respectively, and James, followed by Lev and then Keith led the little boats in the Polly Prize.

Next week is the Summer Party on Saturday and a D-course on Sunday at 16:30.

Race Report 20 July 2025

OOD: Olly Adams,     Safety Boat: Rob Adams

Course: D     Weather: very changeable, 12-17 knots SSW

4 boats signed up to race, but this dropped to two when the forecast suggested gusty wind. The two sailors: Lev Kolobov and Inna in  Porpoise (Enterprise) and Rebecca Hayes in Wagtail (Mirror) were persuaded to sail by Rob Adams now on safety boat with young Billy, and Olly Adams as OOD.

The start was 10 mins late due to lack of manpower to get the boats and rescue boat ready. Conditions were perfect for a challenging sail in wind and sun for what they call in Salcombe “champagne sailing” conditions.

The Chiswick reach had a strong gusty headwind but both Lev and Rebecca handled it with aplomb. Lev and Inna set off into the distance with Rebecca making steady progress towards Chiswick Bridge. Rob in the rescue boat was keen to keep both boats in sight due to the capsize conditions so agreed with Lev that he should turn on Chiswick Bridge but if still keen could try another lap. But by this time the tide had turned and was forcing Rebecca back to Strand. As Lev returned in the Enterprise Rebecca sensibly turned for home too. Both boats finished close together with Lev doing a full Chiswick Bridge lap and Rebecca a Little Boats half lap to Chiswick Staithe and back. Congratulations to both competitors: no swimming and a good healthy sail. 

Rob Adams

Race Report 1^st June 2025

OOD: Andy Ross             Safety Boat: Enoch Rodriguez

Weather: fine, warm, wind WSW 13-17 knots, (F4-5), felt like F3-4:  Start: 17:50:  Course A.

Four boats started the evening’s sail: James Armitage with Johannes as crew in Zephyr (Enterprise); Chris Greenwood with Felicia Biekarck in Distant Thunder (Leader); Sam Shemtob with David in SY2 (Wayfarer); and Ben Chappell in Envy (Laser).

James did a 10-minute first lap followed by Ben, then Chris, then Sam about 4mins later, and they stayed in that order for the next four laps.  Chris overhauled Ben after he paused to capsize and squeezed in an extra lap to complete eight laps, as did James about 7 minutes in the lead.  Sam completed a more leisurely 6 laps and was last back at the arch.

Next Sunday is another A/B course starting at 12:15.

Race Report 25^th May 2025

I’m afraid I have no first-hand race report, but this is what I can infer from the race sheet.

Felicia Biekark was OOD; it was an A-course, with a very fresh breeze, which the Met Office said was from the west, 19 knots gusting 25 knots (Beaufort 5-6); and three brave / foolhardy dinghies dared to launch.  James Armitage, with a novice crew, in Zephyr (Enterprise); Joe Armitage in Punt (Laser); and Sam Shemtob and crew in a heavily-reefed SY2 (Wayfarer).

James was just ahead of his son at the first lap, which took just under 8 minutes, with Sam three minutes behind.  Soon after that James capsized and was not able immediately to right Zephyr from a mast-down position.  Fortunately he didn’t suffer the famous fate of the Bayesian and remained afloat. His crew retired to the safety boat while James managed to right the Enterprise and retired, cold, wet and exhausted.

Meanwhile Joe zoomed around for about 40 minutes completing 6 laps, and Sam carried on for 4 heroic laps before Felicia took pity on them.  It was a busy day for Keith Clarke in the safety boat with Ben Chappell.  Many thanks for their seamanship and care.

Next week, who knows?  It’s an A-B course at 17:50.

HB

Race Report 18^th May 2025

OOD: Nick Floyer

Course: A

Safety Boat: David Jones

A calm and mostly sunny evening, with a rising neap tide. The wind was nominally in the north, from behind the houses along Strand, but in practice from all points.

Four boats started: James Armitage (Zephyr) crewed by Rebecca Hayes and Rob Adams (Big Polly), both in Enterprises; Felicia Biekarck (Punt) and Ben Chappell (Envy) in Lasers.

All made slow progress around a short A-course, completing 5, 4, 4 and 3 laps respectively, and in that finishing order.

Nick Floyer (OOD)

Race Report 11^th May 2025

Another beautiful warm sunny day with a strong wind from the East. This time blowing upstream off the Middlesex bank. Due to the curve in the river, it was a cleaner wind on the A Course although it was still coming off the bank a little. A long A course with 2 buoys, one off the Bell & Crown and the other off the City Barge was laid.  Becky Hayes in her Mirror Wagtail, Keith Clarke in the laser Kaia, and three single-handed Enterprises Big Polly with Rob Adams, Porpoise with Lev Kolobov and Zephyr with James Armitage took to the water shepherded by Dave Baker in the safety boat and overseen by Heather Adams as OOD.

The gusty wind coming over the houses of Strand on the Green was difficult to handle and both Keith and Becky retired leaving the three Enterprises to battle each other and the gusts. After an hour and six laps James came in first followed by Lev (6 laps) and Rob (5 laps). Thank you to Dave for managing the safety boat and Heather for being OOD.

James Armitage

Next week its another A or B course, starting at 17:30