The John Cope Cup - Luis' report
Sunday 20th June – John Cope Cup downriver race Race Officer /SB1 Jane SH and Luis (new member) Safety Boat 2 Mike and Angela We had a great turnout of 11 boats and keen competitors for this downriver race – 6 full-rigged Lasers with John B, James C, Henry, Renato, new member Dan and Dec (Seb’s guest); Sara, Peter and Seb in Solos; Chris in his Streaker and Andrew and a nervous Nina in their new Merlin. The weather was cloudy, 19c dropping to 15c, WSW (sse) 8 gusting 17-14 mph. Because of the lighter winds forecast we decided that instead of running a continuous race we’d revert to the usual 2-leg race format sailing downriver to Chelsea and back. Before the race started Mike and Angela drifted 100m downriver unable to start the SB’s engine so they paddled back to shore to get some technical advice from Renato! John B missed the start and had to regain the start line which put him some way behind. But by Battersea bridge he and Sara were neck and neck. Right after Putney Bri...