The Real Boat Race: 3 April 2022

When fair April with his showers sweet

Hath pierced the drought of March to the root’s feet

And bathed each vein in liquor of such power

Its strength creates the newly-springed flower

So Nature stirs them up to such a pitch

That folk all long to go on pilgrimage

And wandering travellers tread new shores, strange strands.

Geoffrey Chaucer. (1360). General Prologue. The Canterbury Tales.

The Spring Working Party had power-washed the safety boat and hedge-trimmed the foliage, stacking the branches in a spring-green avenue, to enable a parade of 9 boats onto the bone-chillingly cold river that the OOD’s thermometer registered at just 9 degrees Celsius.

An F1-F3 wind, feeling much colder than the 9 degrees air, was steadily from the North which indicated a long ‘A’ course, wind over tide, as the best option for David Jones to lay one buoy upstream beyond the Bell & Crown and the other far downstream towards the City Barge. It could even have enabled a classic ‘Round the Island Race’.

As the OOD arrived to set up the flags, so two 24’ Cornish 4-seater all-women gigs; plus 2 male coxes, happy followers after the Women’s Boat Race, arrived to celebrate their Cambridge win – and moor their boat bows to the shore, across the river, until very politely being invited by the OOD to consider mooring behind each other alongside the bank – which they kindly agreed to do; helped by the very knowledgeable and honourable presence of Margaret Berger, who could attest to the wisdom of their not being in the way of the sailors of the SGSC!  

Lev [with David] was the last to the start line – and most adroitly turned to cross it first while the remaining fleet drifted back; all then finding just enough in a stiff puff to get them going – with Nick in the Duckling flapping about at the rear to stay in touch.  The wind quickly picked up to F3 and James [with Ruth] decided to sail out the mainstream and go outside the PLA trot – and he was followed by David Berger in Big Polly [with Nikita, a very friendly Russian, recruited on the day for an exploratory sail], while everyone else stuck to the North bank run.

A 15-minute circuit brought them back to the ODD, with James in the lead, but now with Ian in Vibe second, with David just behind, but only one second ahead of Tim. Then, within two minutes, both Rob and Ben, then Chris [with Felicia] and Lev [with David], each pair sparred within a second of each other.

On the second lap, James repeated his main river trick – but stalled at the crossing before Oliver Island, though he was now followed by both Ben and Rob, while Ian and Tim still preferred the inside track. Apart from James [and Nick, who was about to be lapped by him], all the other 7 boats were now all about to cross the line simultaneously, all within exactly the same minute of each other; a nightmare for the OOD with a cheerful Boat Race party going on around him!

Thankfully, the stiffening wind then stretched the fleet out for a third lap time ranging from 10 minutes to 52 [alas for Nick] while Ian mysteriously disappeared for a while [becalmed somewhere in monastic contemplation] – but still a minute and a half ahead of Tim; though now just 4 minutes in front of James, who could potentially have lapped him

The fourth lap saw Nick drop well back, while Chris [with Felicia] was still keeping in touch with the Enterprises, and ahead of Ian and Tim who were fortunate to be just two seconds behind James who got the notice of the final lap.

Ian snuck across the line just 2 seconds after James on his 5^th and final lap to finish with four laps, likewise followed by Tim.

Also with five laps each were David [with Nikita] and Rob – also just one second apart. And then, controversially, Lev and Ben – each also one second apart. Ben thought he had somewhere transgressed in a manoeuvre; but this was unseen by anyone else – and though it was asserted by him that the times should be reversed, the ODD recorded the observed timing.

One minute later, Chris [with Felicia] arrived last to finish, but very happy to finish, cheerfully crossing the line to the OOD’s whistle – and waving greetings to the pub crowd!

It so happened that, while these two pairs of finishers were within one second of each other, so also the two Cornish gigs Boat Race party of 10, 5 in each boat, decided that now was the time for their departure – and so amidst a flurry of bags and jackets and unsteady tumbling down steps into their rocky boats, this dramatic race was concluded.

However, the end of our race was not according to the normal Boat Race tradition of the winning team’s cox [James, the helm] being thrown into the river! That would have made ours a Real Boat Race!

What was actually tossed into the river was the ritualistic Spring offering of green hedge foliage, swept away on the stream water flowing from our 12-foot deep down-to-the-riverbed well under the canoe rack, also at 9 degrees Celsius; delivering piercing cold to the root’s feet for the folk on their pilgrimage on the Strand.

Tea and Waitrose Chocolate Biscuits Selection warmed everyone up, down to the root’s feet; especially those of David Jones for his single-handled work in the Safety Boat.

Andy Ross

4 April 2022

It was an early morning C course race with a 10:10am start.

Grey skies and a soft breeze, that seemed dangerously light, blowing from east/north east. 
Four boats set off, Ben, John, and Keith on the Lasers and Lev solo in his Enterprise. Ian and David were on safety boat duty and I had the honour of taking my first round as OOD.

The race started with John in the lead with the others following very close by.
A combination of a steady breeze and the up river current kept the boats travelling at speed reaching the buoy in Isleworth, pretty much all together, in just about 25 minutes.

Keith, Lev, Ben and John rounded the buoy and here is where the wind proved to be just fine. It was a lovely sail! Tacking against an unusual steady wind, and with the current just turning, the boats sailed gracefully criss-crossing the river from bank to bank.

Ben took the lead for most of the return leg, until overtaken by Lev on a dead wind spot by the Syon House banks.

Lev was the first to cross the finish line in 1:01h followed by Ben 1:04h, Keith 1:06h and John 1:08h

There was a cheerful mood back at the Arch over a cup of tea and biscuits. Race worth sailing!

Hopping to see more of the Strand crowd joining us next Sunday, A course, 3:35pm start.

Cheers!

Felicia

The blossom was out, the sun shining but the wind was very light. A decision was made to change the course from a B to an A.

Lev had a lovely start and sailed into the lead whilst it took the remaining 6 boats a little time to get going.

The race continued with Lev maintaining his lead until disaster struck at the downwind mark which he gently nudged when rounding it.

This gave James with his crew Ruth the opportunity to take the lead and to win the race. Lev was second and Ian doggedly kept going to finish four laps in two hours.

Everyone else was able to complete at least one lap, Chris and Felicia managed two, but Ben, Keith and Sam retired before the end.

Heather Adams, OOD

A dry, sunny morning with variable S wind , F3, turning cold.

A “C” course was started as soon as the four boats assembled upstream of Kew Road Bridge at the unreasonably early time of 0945. Dave Jones was helming the safety boat with two crew. Two Enterprises,  Porpoise (Lev sailing solo) and  Zephyr (James and Ruth) were joined by Chris and Felicia in Leader Distant Thunder and Tim (sailing solo) in Wanderer Ait Knots.

The race commenced early with Tim following the leading pack of three having been a little way back prior to the start.

I understand that James and Chris broke away on the way up to Isleworth.  (There’s little to see from the OOD’s position.)  I also learnt Lev capsized but recovered quickly and was able to progress to Isleworth.  

The race concluded with the return of James in 52 mins, Chris in  66 mins, then Lev in 97 mins and closely followed by Tim in 97:20.  

A longish haul with some difficult hanging around to make the passage back under Kew Road Bridge in slightly colder conditions.

Thanks to Dave and crew in the Safety Boat for safety watch and the assistance to crews.

Tom Broadhurst (OOD)

We published John’s race report last week but now that the Handicap Sums have been done (see below, based on Portsmouth Numbers / Polly Prize) we can report the true winners.

No surprise that James Armitage (Zephyr, Enterprise) won, followed by his son Joseph (Punt, Laser) and then Rob Adams (Phoebe, Laser).

A dry, sunny afternoon but cold. High spring tide with varying wind conditions 2 gusting 4 from ENE.

The 1^st RACE of 2022.

An “A” course was set with an upstream buoy laid beyond the Bell and Crown Pub but out in the stream to account for the wind direction, together with a buoy downstream outside the City Barge Pub.

Six boats assembled on the foreshore with Dave Jones helming the safety boat. Two Enterprises Zephyr (James and Ruth) and Porpoise (Lev sailing solo).

Amazingly, four lasers Phoebe (Rob), Envy (Ben), Punt (Joseph) and Chiarella (Ariel).

And Spirit of Youth (Sam sailing solo in his Wayfarer).

The race commenced at 15.50 with Lev recovering fast from shipping water prior to the start but with frantic baling managed to join the start line in time.

Sam missed the start but quickly recovered.

James, Joseph and Rob quickly broke away followed by Ben, Ariel, Lev and Sam.  James, Joseph and Rob maintained their lead with Joseph and James changing places throughout. All three boats lapping in approximately 10 minutes. This continued for three laps after which James managed to pull away from Joseph with Rob losing ground.  Lev was moving up with Ben close behind although they both experienced different setbacks. Lev having to complete a penalty for touching the Bell and Crown buoy and Ben in capsizing twice in unexpected gusts of wind. Ben recovering quickly without assistance from Dave Jones in the safety boat. Meanwhile Ariel was caught between trees on the island and lost his position. Sam continued steadily.

The race concluded with James 5 laps in 47.06, Joseph 5 laps 52.29 and Rob 5 laps 60.27.

Lev and Ben 4 laps in 53.14 and 60.45.  Ariel 3 laps in 59.30 and Sam 2 laps in 47.40.

A tricky, but enjoyable days sailing over an “A” course beyond the “GRID”.

Thanks to Dave in the Safety Boat for course setting and for safety watch.

OOD John Bull

(the table of results will follow when the Master of Sums returns to base)

Seven boats set out gamely to take part in a late afternoon B course under grey skies and calm conditions.  All seven made it under the railway bridge downstream to the start line, this being a challenge in itself given the light winds and incoming tide. 

Sadly three boats (Jane in Pacman, Sam in SY2 and Nick Jeffery with his crew in Eeyore, the Duckling) had to retire before completing a first lap, despite Lev and David Kolobov in the safety boat having sympathetically set out a relatively short course between the two marker buoys.  Rob Adams in his Laser led the race and completed three laps as did Chris Greenwood and Felicia in Distant Thunder.  Congratulations go to Ben in his Laser and the youngest crew (Ariel and Tamina in Tonic) for completing 2 and 1 laps respectively, both artfully exploiting the eddies close to the north bank to make way downstream against tide and with only relatively light winds.

There was a little excitement during the race when an Eight managed to hit the pier and also when Distant Thunder was washed onto the pier by the prevailing current.   However Felicia deftly took down the sails and mast so the boat could pass under a gap in the pier and then having got the mast and sails back up proceed round the pier and resume their course with minimum fuss – and without recourse to help from the safety boat which would have meant they would have had to retire from the race.

The OOD was cheerfully and ably assisted by 5-year-old Kieran with signalling the race start and end both with the flags and sounding the horn.

There’s no race next week because the tides and daylight hours don’t match, but the week after that, 7^th November, will be the last race followed by Beer and Bangers (around 16:00), for which brewmaster Steve Newell has laid down some 40 pints of his best.  Please join in.

Mary Short OOD

On a cloudy but dry Sunday lunchtime, an impressive seven boats turned out for today’s C course. As we know from previous C courses, the historic start point is now obscured by heavy foliage, and the pontoon by the houseboats was inaccessible. As a result, the OOD decided that visibility was paramount, so selected a start a few metres nearer the bridge than before.

Despite their best efforts, both Lasers found the light wind and strong tide pushed them slightly over the starting line, so were each awarded a 20 second time penalty. In any event, the seven competitors made a good start and were soon out of sight around the bend, accompanied by the Safety Boat.

After a thankfully uneventful race, the fleet returned. First back was James Armitage and his daughter Ruth in Zephyr in an impressive 69 minutes. Next to cross were Henry and Mary Brown in Big Polly, the other Enterprise racing today, in a creditable 75 minutes. Chris Greenwood and Felicia were hot on their tail in Distant Thunder, which finished just 45 seconds later. They had been ahead for much of the return run from Isleworth.

The rest of the boats followed closely behind: Ben Chappell in Envy, then Keith Clarke in his yet-to-be-named Laser, followed by Tonic, with Tim Young bringing up the rear in Ait Knots.

Huge congratulations to Aerial and Tamina who were not only our youngest competitors but crewed Tonic to come first on handicap. Congratulations also to Keith Clarke, who completed his first race with the club. Finally, many thanks to Andy Ross for his sterling work in the Safety Boat and for his skilful manoeuvring of the boats under Kew Bridge.

Jane Watkins, OOD 

A lovely Autumn evening tempted 8 boats out onto the river.  The wind forecast was a light 4 knots from the north, with gusts of 8 knots, and from time to time the sails were fluttering encouragingly as we rigged.  Chris in his Leader was crewed by Felicia, who provided two more of her family for the race: daughter Tamina crewing for James Armitage in his Enterprise, and son Aerial helming Joesph Armitage’s Laser. The Browns provided another Enterprise; there were two other Lasers helmed by Keith Clarke and Rob Adams;  Leona Shepherd in her Lightning; and Tim Young in his Wanderer.

The course was a triangular ‘A’ starting at the Bell and Crown, a downstream mark at the slip dock, an upstream mark on the Surrey side provided by the rowing buoy, and an upstream mark on the Strand side opposite the Steam Packet.

The north wind gave a choice of starting down the Strand side in the slack water by the footpath or stemming the tide on the Surrey side of the river where the wind and tide were stronger.  Most boats took the latter choice and James and Rob took the lead on the first lap with a run down to the downstream mark, a beat back to the rowing buoy (which gave the best sailing of the day) and a reach across to the Steam Packet. There was nasty doldrum at that point in which several boats unintentionally rafted up and started the drift back to Kew Bridge. At the end of the first lap James was narrowly ahead of Rob, closely followed by the Browns, Aerial, Keith and Chris.  By the second lap James had gained six minutes over Rob who was still followed closely by Chris but by the third lap James was lapping everyone but Rob.  Keith was caught in the upstream doldrum and had to be rescued by David Jones in the safety boat from Kew Bridge.  In the end James and Rob both completed 4 laps with Chris, the Browns and Aerial on three laps, and Leona (only her second time out in a race) and Tim on two laps.

Thanks to Enoch for doing the timekeeping and Dave Jones for safety boating.  It was a strong spring tide and the boats practically floated into the yard at the end. 

Next week is a C-course at 12:15.

HB

We had hoped to entertain South Bank Sailing Club to a race and refreshments.  Late on Saturday afternoon they changed their minds on the grounds that the weather forecast for their return sail to Putney would be assaulted by horrible weather.  As it happens, they were right: conditions later in the afternoon were pretty nasty, but the weather for our race, starting at 1130, were close to perfect.

Seven boats launched: two Enterprises with James Armitage crewed by daughter Ruth, and Lev Kolobov crewed by son David; Chris Greenwood in a Leader with Felicia; three Lasers with Rob Adams, Joseph Armitage and new member Keith Clarke; and Ian Nethersell in his Vibe.  The wind was light before the start, coming from the SW, but promising to increase to mid F3 with gusts of F4.  We set a short A-course with a start at Zoffany House, an upstream mark just below the Steam Packet, and a downstream mark at the top of the draw-dock.

For the first two laps Lev was ahead of James with Joseph in third place.  Well done Lev.  Then James crept ahead by a matter of seconds with Joseph close behind Lev for a further three laps.  On his sixth lap Lev was caught by a nasty gust at the downstream mark and capsized.  He and David then had to right the boat and get rid of gallons of water as he re-rounded the mark and headed upstream, bailing madly.  So Joseph then slipped into second place and was abreast of his Dad at the seventh lap, and Ian was now in third place having sailed consistently and well, with Lev catching up in fourth place. 

For a novice in our curious waters and with a new boat, Keith had sailed impressively, learning the hard way when to short-tack close to the bank out of the tide and when to benefit from the full tidal flow.  But on his 9^th lap, tailing the fleet and approaching the downstream mark, he was caught by a gust and capsized.  Being a Laser he managed to right the boat without any water aboard and set off to complete the course but his unfamiliarity with the boat meant that the main sheet unthreaded itself from its blocks and flew off out of reach.  At that point, all other boats having finished racing, he decided to retire.

So the finishing order was an Armitage affair with James/Ruth 1st, Joseph a minute behind, both on 10 laps; Rob 3rd, then Lev, then Ian on 9 laps; and finally Chris on 7 laps.  On the PN handicap (Polly Prize) Ian advanced to 3^rd place.

Back at the Arch it was like old pre-Covid times with a crowd of sailors, family and friends enjoying the feast that had been prepared for South Bank Sailing Club.  An excellent fish soup from Chris and a lemon drizzle cake from Heather were star attractions.

Thanks to Mary B as OOD and to Tim Young for helping HB in the safety boat.

Next week we have a working party (1030) and an A-course at 1640.

HB