South Bank Sailing Club Blog

It was an early 9:15 start for race 4 of the Bevington series, and with some members travelling to Greece for the club holiday we had slightly fewer people than usual: two Solos, four Lasers and an Enterprise. We had warm, sunny conditions with a light easterly wind. Almost everyone made it to the right side of the start line for the slightly delayed start, thanks to some towing by Daniel and James in the safety boat, and the race got under way with the fleet making good progress with the tide towards the far buoy on the Barnes bank. The return leg was predictably slower but Sally eventually was first around the near buoy followed by Jamie and then Renato, looking for his first win or the series, not far behind. The conditions looked difficult from the race box with the fleet having to contend with the stronger tide on the Barnes side, as well as staying clear of the rowers and deciding whether to hug the bank or hope for better wind further out in the stream. The fleet spread out, and...

After all the fab weather we have had recently it was a surprise to wake up to a drizzly early morning, but by the time the club was open it had cleared up nicely and the breeze was picking up. Hopes for a good turnout were revived? Lev from Strand on the Green called to say they’d only got one contender, so they unfortunately wouldn’t be making an appearance. We’ll look forward to their “Strand Challenge” in early September if we don’t get to sail with them sooner. The briefing, aside from the usual considerations also mentioned the recent Putney Embankment Construction Works  on the Tideway Tunnel which has just begun (and must be avoided). With Ranelagh creeping up against the tide for the scheduled start, we had a short (perhaps inevitable) delay as we waited for a few rowing boats to clear the slipway and ensuring the recently arrived LCSC sailors got a quick briefing. SBSC boats were launching at their normal relaxed manner, but on the warning s...

Race Report – 3 rd June 2018 – To ‘The Ship’ and Back Sunday, 3 rd of June, and a merciless sun beats down on the small group of stalwart SBSC sailors huddled in the shade of the clubhouse.   Worse still, the wind seems languid, torpid, as if dulled to insensibility by the heavy heat.   Lost in their own thoughts, each man and woman no doubt reflects on the words of the poet… When the still sea conspires an armour And her sullen and aborted Currents breed tiny monsters True sailing is dead! It up to Race Officer Jane to rally us.   Instead of the planned downriver race, a race to the Ship pub at Wandsworth Bridge and back is mooted, with time for refreshments in between legs.   Heartened, the brave band gather on the foreshore. Barbara, Elaine, Sally and Alexei opt for Lasers.   Sara and Allan choose Solos, with Allan giving an outing to the new club Solo.   Finally, Ben and Tom plump for a Xenon.   A Le Mans start sees new member Barbara take an early lead, making full use of the mi...

You are about to read a rather sketchy race report as I have almost totally forgotten what happened all those weeks ago. It was a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon and I do remember there being minimal wind. In fact Most people thought not enough for a race. Sara however, made a desperate plea to race as it is the one thing she looks forward to each week. So the boats were dutifully launched. The course was sausage like. I think. Possibly not. 3 laps were sailed. The race was fairly undramatic. UNTIL ……… Jamie literally pipped Renato at the post. You couldn’t have made it up and seeing was definitely believing. Lottie and I had a great view from the race box. Jamie appeared to have his very own, private piece of wind that blew only him at a considerably faster pace than Renato was drifting at. And so, this extraordinary piece of luck, resulted in a supersonic win for Jamie. I have now just realised why Jamie has been so keen for this race report to be written. Luckily Da...

Our Bob Jackson is as handy with paint (and app) as he is with a jib. The artist has an exhibition locally – here’s some background: South London artist Rob Jackson is exhibiting several of his recent artworks at Kram Gallery, the community art space in Garratt Lane. Jackson first studied at the Mary Ward Centre in Bloomsbury, and then Camberwell School of Art.    He took up art ‘in spite of his father thinking that modern art was a load of rubbish’, and says, ‘when I first saw Jackson Pollock I sensed real freedom’. His art and studies have led him now to be influenced by painters from Rembrandt to Richter and computer art apps. He has  an interesting app on his iPad that he has been interested with in recent weeks, adding, ‘I find the use of new technology has added to the range of my work and can help people to more easily create works of their own’. The Jackson Show is on at Atkinsons’ Kram Gallery, 302 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth,  SW18 4EH until July 24th. Admission: Free...