Strand on the Green Sailing Club – Race Results – 9th April 2017
Course: A; Race number: 3; OD: Heather Adams; Safety Boat:Alex Pape, David Jones.

Race report

There were blue skies, spring warmth and, for some, a perfect sailing breeze of (in Kew Gardens) F4 with gusts, from the south. Seven boats started but an eighth boat, Tim Wellburn’s Enterprise, was also on the river getting to grips with local conditions.

It was a day for the big boats and the fleet split accordingly: three Ents and a Laser followed by two Gulls and a Lightning. David and Alex in the safety boat set a longish two-mark A-course with the downstream mark abreast of the draw dock. In general it was a fine reach or a beat down to the bottom mark and a broad reach or run back towards Kew Bridge.

The big boats were in the lead at the first lap: James Armitage and Rob Collingwood (both solo in their Ents) less than a minute apart at the front, followed by Rob Adam’s Laser and Chris Greenwood (crewed by Laura) in close company. Nick Floyer led the little boats, about two minutes astern, closely followed by Lev Kolobov and then Tim Young.

The big boats continued to benefit from the conditions and by the end completed seven laps. James and Rob Collingwood swapped the lead several times but on the last lap James drew ahead by about 4 minutes. Rob Adams followed about 3 minutes behind. Chris suffered the only capsize of the day – a nasty jibe at the top mark on his 6th lap. After righting the boat Laura got back aboard with great agility but was not able to control the water-laden craft across the line as her father urged and suffered a second dunking.

In the little boats Nick Floyer had a close battle with Lev Kolobov but drew ahead in the end to finish three laps about 4 minutes ahead. Tim was content to stay upright and finish two laps.

So, an exciting day to entertain the basking throngs on the tow path. Many thanks to Heather for keeping score and to Alex and David in the safety boat.

Next week there will be an Easter Egg for a prize.

Boats that sailed in the race are marked in bold type.

Strand on the Green Sailing Club – Race Results – 2nd April 2017
Course: A; Race number: 2; OD:Nick Floyer; Safety Boat: Andy Ross, David Jones.

Race report
Sunday’s race should really have taken place a day earlier and been a true April Fool’s event.
On the day we decided against the scheduled D-course because some other Boat Race was dominating the river downstream of the Railway Bridge, and the PLA had officially closed the river. Those present at the morning’s working party decided that delaying to a top-of-the-tide race – high water at 19:30, sunset at 19:34 – was not a good alternative, so we decided to make the best of a low-tide race somewhere upstream of the Railway Bridge.

It was a lovely spring day but with not much in the way of wind. Our ambition was to start on a line opposite the Arch, using our new flag pole (thanks to David Jones), and attempt to sail up to Brentford Lock. If we got up there in good time we would do a turn or two around some buoys and then return to finish on the start line.

Five boats started: Rob Adams (Laser), Chris Greenwood with Henry Brown (Ent), Ian Nethersell (Vibe), Lev Kolobov and Tim Young in their Gulls, and they all set off upstream in the channel between Oliver Island and the Surrey bank. What little wind there was came mostly down the river, so the fleet tacked between centre-board grabbing shallows downstream of and alongside the island and the increasingly brisk ebb tide on the Surrey bank side. Tack and tack and tack again, creeping up the side of the island to be swept back down again. And again, and again. Rob was in the lead for much of the first half hour, by which time he almost got half way up the island, but in the frequent reprises of this move all boats had a turn at being in the lead, between being locked in a tight confusion of boats.

After half an hour Andy Ross and David Jones in the safety boat saw the way things were and dropped a buoy about two thirds of the way up the island to give some hope. After about 40 minutes they shortened the course even further to about half way and a lucky patch of wind enabled all boats to struggle up to and around it, to return to the line with a collective sigh of relief. All boats finished within about four minutes of each other after around 50 minutes on the water on what must be the shortest course we have ever sailed – about 150m from start to turn.

Nick Floyer as Officer of the Day witnessed most of this excitement from the start line, apart from the odd times we were hidden by the trees.

The results of such a race are pretty arbitrary and more a reflection of each boat’s handicap, but for the record, the finishing order was Ian, Rob, Tim, Chris and Lev, and the adjusted time order was Tim, Lev, Ian, Rob and Chris. April Fools maybe, but an enjoyable spring afternoon on the river nevertheless.

Boats that sailed in the race are marked in bold type.

Strand on the Green Sailing Club – Race Results -26th March 2017
Course: A; Race number: 1; OD:John Bull; Safety Boat: Alex Pape

Race report
A bright sunny day, with seven boats eager to get afloat for the first “B” course of the season.
However, looking downstream from Kew Railway Bridge, there was a mass of rowers preparing for their respective races below Chiswick Bridge. Although the racing was showing signs of ending, the OOD after discussion, decided to alter the proposed “B” course to an “A” to avoid the rowers. A typical three buoy race, starting at the Bell and Crown and incorporating the Surrey rowing buoy was set. The wind direction was E – NE 1-2 but gusting 3-4.
A good start was made by all boats with six boats racing and our new members Tim Wellburn and his crew Horacio in their Enterprise testing their boat and cautiously sailing the course.
The race split 50/50 between the Surrey Bank (stronger wind) and the Strand, coming together at the Grid buoy. Ian, sailing on the Strand Bank with his jib furled, rounded the buoy first closely followed by Rob who had chosen the Surrey Bank. Henry and Mary were close behind. Lev with Chris and Laura following and Tim a little further back. The wind strength was building and gusts of 3-4 were being experienced on the Surrey Bank. The conditions were testing and Tim in Axolotl and Tim Wellburn both capsized. Both boats were helped to safety by Alex in the Safety Boat.
The race continued with Rob leading Ian after two laps followed closely by Henry. Lev was just keeping ahead of Chris although approx. 8 minutes behind.
The third lap produced a rare moment. Henry capsized and unfortunately broke his mast as his Enterprise inverted and dragged along the riverbed. Alex, with assistance from Horacio, took Mary into the safety boat and skilfully towed Henry to safety at the slipway at Kew Bridge, so that he could return to shepherding the remaining racing boats, aided by Tim.
Lap 3 also saw Rob and Ian battling for the lead and Chris and Lev, further back, only 5 seconds apart. The race continued with this pairing until Rob and Ian lapped Lev and Chris with Rob just keeping ahead of Ian.
On lap 5, the gusty conditions persuaded Rob to call it a day and retire to the Arch. Ian then went on to complete the final lap in the lead and finish 5 laps in 52.03. Chris and Lev finished after 4 laps in 61.30 and 73.06 respectively. Lev dropped back after a dramatic capsize at the rowing buoy and then executed a very impressive recovery over the transom and fought his way back to the finish line.
Thank you to Alex for the busiest safety boat duty for a long time.
An eventful and memorable second race this season at Strand.

Boats that sailed in the race are marked in bold type.

Strand on the Green Sailing Club – Race Results First Race – 12th March 2017
Course: A; OD:John Bull; Safety Boat:Ian Nethersell, with David Jones
Boats that sailed in the race are marked in bold type.

Race report

The First Race, light rain with little wind could not dissuade six boats from attempting a tricky “A” course. The wind strength being force 1 from the NW suggested a short “A” course with three buoys starting at the Bell and Crown, the Grid and incorporating the rowing buoy on the Surrey Bank. Ian Nethersell and Dave Jones in the safety boat set the course accordingly.
The race started at 13.20, with all dinghies getting away without problems.
James, sailing on his own, edged ahead of the fleet with Rob close behind, followed by Henry and Chris and Lev and Tim bringing up the rear in their Gulls. This pattern continued throughout the race with James and Rob eventually lapping everyone. James and Rob both lapping at 7.5 – 8.0 minutes with Rob threatening on occasions to catch James and overtake. Meanwhile, Henry and Chris in their Enterprises continued to jostle for third place, swapping places at various stages of the race. At the second lap buoy they were inseparable at 17.01. They continued to jostle throughout the race and eventually lapped Lev and Tim in their respective Gulls. Lev consistently sailed steadily round the course with little problem, difficult in a small boat in the light wind and spring tide.
Tim proudly sailed his magnificent new Gull “Axolotl” following Lev around the course. Tim showed some bursts of speed as he mastered the feel of his new boat, but was unfortunately swept past the rowing buoy on the second lap. However, he skilfully re-rounded the rowing buoy and continued without losing too much time. Lev gradually increased his lead over Tim and finally lapped Tim.
During the last two laps the wind dropped further and the tide strengthened sending the dinghies closer into the Strand bank. The race slowed and produced a final lap where all the boats were arriving at the final buoy together, albeit on different laps.
A very exciting finish with James finishing ahead of Rob after seven laps on 61.56. Chris and Henry finished third and fourth barely 16 seconds apart after six laps, Lev and Tim finishing after five and four laps respectively.
On returning to the new look arch, Dave had prepared a very welcome first race drink of Hot Rum and Blackcurrant and John provided the biscuits. Much appreciated by all.
A very enjoyable and successful start to the 2017 season.