A fine afternoon with a light but variable SW wind and a strong spring tide.
Tamir Gottfried (Laser) made the best start on an A-course, but was overtaken by James Armitage in Zephyr(crewed by daughter Ruth) and by Lev Kolobov solo in Porpoise (Enterprise) just before the downstream mark. Originally very close together, the gaps steadily lengthened, James covering Lev all the way, until James managed to lap Tamir on his last of 6 laps.
Next week is a D-course (downstream to Hammersmith and back) starting at 1500.
Here are the results of Sunday’s race – OOD: Lenny Pronk, Safety Boat: Lev Kolobov; nice breeze for a B-course (first of the season). Rob Adams and crew were first after 3 laps followed by our Commodore in Distant Thunder and then Olly Adams in Spinosaurus (Mirror), but the handicap system gave first place to Olly in his little Mirror – and well deserved.
OOD: Mary Short. Safety Boat: Sam Shemtob and Andy Ross
Start : 16:10. Fine, gusty,
Three boats sailing: Distant Thunder ( Leader) with Chris Greenwood and Lev Kolobov; Zephyr (Enterprise) with James Armitage and daughter Ruth; and Ellie (Laser) with Patrick Lane-Spollen. James spent time helping Dave Berger to rig Big Polly but only succeeded in being late for the start: Dave and Sheila had to give up the attempt.
So Distant Thunder led all the way over 8 laps of frisky sailing, and Patrick had a challenging time learning the ways of a Laser.
Race number 2 : OOD: Mary Brown; Safety Boat: Henry Brown.
It was a sunny afternoon with the promise of spring all around, but very little wind. Six boats launched: Lev Kolobov solo in his Enterprise – Porpoise; Rob Adams, crewed by grandson Hugo in Big Polly (Enterprise); Sam Shemtob solo in SY2 (Wayfarer); Tamir Gottfried in his Laser; Keith Clarke in Kaia (Laser); and Olly Adams, crewed by his son Hugo in Spinosaurus (Mirror). The wind was variable in direction as it always is at Strand, but predominantly from the north – which means against the spring tide. Good news. We agreed on a short A-course.
As the fleet drifted upstream towards the start line (at The Steam Packet) the safety boat decided not to obey instructions from the driver who then had to set the marks using the hand tiller on the motor – which lost some time and meant that the race started with the upstream mark yet to be set.
Rob led the race at the first lap with Lev and Tamir in close attendance. Tamir led at the second lap and Lev at the third and final lap. Keith and Olly were always pretty close behind the leaders, but Sam found that his heavy old Wayfarer with its floppy old sails and the lack of a crew left him lagging behind.
Olly and Billy in their little Mirror taught all contenders a lesson in light weather sailing skills, even having time to use the spinnaker and, after the handicap sums were done, finishing first in all categories.
A reward for all, however, was the flapjack/tea back in the soggy arch, courtesy of OOD Mary, with the additional honour and pleasure of Margaret Berger’s company – our own Centenarian.
Next week we have another A or B course starting at11:20.
Just in time for Christmas – here are the results of our Club races for the season.
Congratulations to James for coming first in the three Points Series (Handicap Cup, Class Cup – Big Boats, and Polly Prize), and to Rebecca for coming first in the Class Cup, Little Boats.
Lev was second in the Big Boats and Polly Prize; Keith was second in the Handicap Cup; and Nick and Olly were joint second in the Little Boats. Chris was third in the three Points Series.
OOD : Enoch Rodriguez assisted by Andy Ross and Dave Jones
Safety Boat: David Baker
Weather: Cloudy, light NE wind, 2-3 Beaufort,
Course: A
It was the last race of the season with a good turn-out of 8 boats on a fine Autumn morning. James Armitage had Kieran Biekarck as crew in Zephyr (Enterprise); Lev Kolobov and Rob Adams were both solo in their Enterprises – Porpoise and Big Polly. Chris Greenwood had Commodore Felicia Biekarck as crew in Distant Thunder (Leader) and Sam Shemtob had Timor Gottfried aboard to speed his Wayfarer, SY2. Ben Chappell and Keith Clarke had their Lasers – Envy and Kaia, and Rebecca Hayle was all alone in Wagtail.
The wind was good for the Ents: James was consistently ahead doing laps in 5-7 minutes with Lev and Rob ending up about 4 minutes behind after 9 laps, and Chris followed closely about 90 seconds behind. The two Lasers were lapped by the Ents and completed 7 laps in about the same time. Sam in the Wayfarer had put a reef in his main (expecting to sail solo), which slowed him down despite Tamir’s assistance. And the light wind was no friend to Rebecca who persisted heroically to overcome the flood tide in the approach to Kew bridge. But she nevertheless completed 3 laps.
The race was over in just over an hour and all the boats made their way back to the Arch. But spare a thought for Enoch and his helpers who had to record the times of eight boats crossing the line up to 9 times each – around 60 individual records. And the race sheet was immaculate.
Meanwhile, back at the Arch, Mary Short (and others) had bought the barbeque to life to prepare a hot feast of bangers and other meats, plus pickles and sauces, plus buns, plus a wide variety of cakes, flapjacks and sweets, plus beer and other drinks. The traditional beer and bangers to mark the end of the season, and 80 years of SGSC. And we were honoured to have Marthe Armitage, a founder member of the club back in 1946, to share in the celebrations.
A good muster of boats ready for a D course in a decent breeze and sunshine. Boats included James Armitage and Felicia Biekarck in Zephyr (Enterprise), Keith Clarke (Kaia) and Tamir Gottfried in Lasers, Sam Shemtob and new crew in SY2 (Wayfarer), Nick Floyer in flo (Gull) and Olly Adams and Billy in Spinosaurus (Mirror).
The race got off to a start 5mins late with syncopated start sequence of horns and flags from OOD Heather Adams supported by Sienna. Sadly the tide was on the wane and it was clear that a full course was not possible. With James, Tamir and Keith stretching out and the little boats stuck at Chiswick Bridge, Rob Adams and Kieran in the safety boat put the buoy down just at the upstream end of the old Watney’s Brewery.
Tamir lead James round the buoy with Keith close behind. The tide was exactly slack. The remaining boats managed to clear Chiswick Bridge and its wind shadow and began to make a little progress to the buoy but with an ever-strengthening incoming tide Rob and Kieran offered to move the buoy for the small boats, but both declined and pressed on.
By this time Sam had retired finding it difficult to make it through Chiswick Bridge with a reef in his sail.
To the great relief of the safety boat the wind changed a little more from the S allowing the two little boats to keep in to the Middlesex shore and reach up to the mark and round, Nick’s boat in the lead. The excitement was to see if the deployment of the Mirror’s spinnaker would give them a chance of catching up. Billy’s enthusiastic foredeck work finally got the bulging sail up and filled but wind was becoming more fickle and the positions didn’t change.
The last two boats had a hour of sailing but by the time they got back the Wayfarer, Lasers and Enterprise were all put away.
Cloudy, light rain, gusty, SW 12-28 knots, F 4-5 Beaufort
Course: A
Three boats launched late on a forbidding autumn day: back to GMT. James Armitage in Zephyr (Enterprise) with Tom Wellburn as crew; Lev Kolobov solo in Porpoise (Enterprise); and Chris Greenwood with Mary Short in Distant Thunder (Leader).
Good start by all at 13:30. Lev turned at the downstream mark first, followed by James and then Chris. James overtook on the run upstream and led most of the way thereafter. (Lev was ahead on the 4th lap). Some strong gusts had all three leaning at times. Six laps by James and Lev, 2 minutes apart at the end. 5 laps by Chris and Mary, about 5 minutes behind. Daylight faded as the race procession ended.
Mary got moral points for crewing Chris in the rain and cold!
Thanks to Keith for doubling up on duties and enabling Tim to crew for James.
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 1st 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 3rd 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!
