Race Results 17th May 2026

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Race Report Sunday 17th May 2026

Three boats arrived at the start line on a cool afternoon with a brisk SW wind. Lev Kolobov in his new Enterprise, Ben Chappell and Tamir Gottfried in Lasers. Buoys were laid downstream close to the Railway Bridge and upstream off the Bell and Crown. With the rowing buoy on the Surrey side included, this made for a triangular course with a beat and if you got it right a fast (planing) reach across the river and a run back down to starting line and Kew Bridge buoy. The Bell and Crown was heaving with Brentford supporters ready for the needle match with Crystal Palace so Heather wisely moved the start line to the lamp post outside Zoffany House. Start prompt on the scheduled time of 1430 saw the boats jostle their way to the Railway Bridge buoy.  During the 4 laps the lead changed repeatedly with Ben and Lev both enjoying the lead by overtaking Tamir on the run, only for Tamir to regain the lead on the beat. The excitement was all about the upstream buoy which required a gybe in the windiest part of the course, at times blowing full on force 4. Tamir was the only person to capsize but with an athletic re-righting beautifully captured on film, only to veer off the wrong side of the buoy. He quickly got back on course and shot away practicing his risky Ben Ainslie- style sailing on the windward edge of the Laser. 

Good racing, well done all and thank you to Heather for OOD duties and the delicious lemon cake and tea. Good to see David and Margaret Berger on the bank. 

For the record, Chris Greenwood came by and not only helped in the rescue boat but also directed Rob Adams with the adjustment to the outboard control to get neutral in the right place on the control lever. It did involve bending the metal bracket straight again.

Rob Adams (safety boat).

Ooops!!

Race Report 10th May 2026

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Race Report 10th May 2026

OOD: Leona Shepherd

Safety Boat: Lennart Pronk

Weather: Fair  with fresh NE  winds F3. 

Course: D  

Start: 15:05  HWKB:14.10    Wind  NE 10-12km

5 boats launched with Patrick Lane-Spollen in Ellie (Laser), Chris Greenwood and Felicia Biekarck in Distant Thunder (Leader) and Tamir Gottfried (Laser), James and Ruth Armitage in Zephyr (Enterprise) and Joseph Armitage and friend James in Big Polly (Enterprise). After a last minute handover of safety boat duties from Joseph to Lennart (thank you Lenny!) the boats were in the water and on the downstream side of the bridge for a 15.05 start. 

The start was very tight with all boats vying for the best wind and tide position and it remained competitive until well after Barnes bridge, when James and Ruth pulled away and Tamir didn’t quite catch the wind in time to stay close. Around Chiswick Lifeboat station, Patrick, who in a head to wind position, got caught in-irons, had to pull his boat out and withdrew from the race. He continued to sail and enjoy the afternoon, gaining some valuable tips from the other sailors on his return.

Being a D course the OD did not follow it step by step! A good wind and tide together for the return made for rewarding conditions and fun sailing. The first, and fast, arrival at the finish line was Zephyr, with James & Ruth, in 1h 19mins 50s. Thereafter, Tamir arrived in 1h 26mins 08s, Joseph & James on Big Polly in 1h 30mins 10s and Chris & Felicia in 1h 33mins 00s. With 14mins between first to last boats it was indeed a tight race from start to finish. Great photos by Lenny are already posted to the SGSC WhatsApp group 

Leona Shepherd OOD)

Race Report 3rd May 2026

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Race Report 3rd May 2026

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.

Nick Floyer (OOD)

Race Report 19th April 2026

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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.

Race Report 5th April 2026

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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 Report 22nd March 2026

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Race Report – 22 March 2026

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.

Race Results for 2025

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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.

HB