Bevington 10 - Andrew's report

Sunday 31st July 2022.

As we arrived at the club, the wind was blowing a strong 20-knot northwesterly. A tricky course was proposed in view of the wind direction, favouring the controversial red rowing buoy as the windward mark in an arrangement of three buoys. Mutiny in the ranks prevailed, but the race officer and John Parke as assistant race officer were adamant and stuck to their guns in retaining the course proposed. ‘Sausage sailing’ – not on our watch!

All raced in Lasers today, save James who was in his trusty red Solo. While Sara and Alex were in the safety boat, John and Andrew manned the race box.

No sooner had the boats hit the water, than the wind completely dropped off. But we had a clean start, and Renato took a different tack to the rest of the sailors. It was very slow race at the beginning up to mark 2 (the controversial red rowing mark) as the wind completely dropped off.

Had we chosen the right course? Had we set the correct number of laps? We would just have to let the race unfold.

Renato skilfully rounded the mark in first position with Jakob hot on his heals.

Renato rounded the 3rd mark in first and opened up the lead on a fine reach to mark 1.

Meanwhile, James and Henry tussled for 3rd and 4th position. James trailed slightly behind Henry.

On the second lap, from mark 3 to 1, the race sped up, being significantly faster than the first lap, as the wind picked up, it looked like we had a race. Renato hugged the wall near the east bank and caught a nice gust to extend the lead, placing him a whole mark ahead.

The battle for 3rd and 4th continued as James overtook Henry.

By the time the group approached the 2nd mark, nearest the West Bank, The wind shifted slightly and Jakob got stuck briefly, and James almost took 2nd place. However, Jakob pipped him to the post and managed to open up a lead on the run to the 3rd mark.

As we hit the 4th lap, Renato was in the lead about to catch up and lap the main pack, who all seem to have closed up. However, the wind got the better of him from mark 3 to 1 and he wasn’t able to catch them.

Having rounded mark 1, and on the way to mark 2, the main pack was upset by three motor-cruisers who didn’t seem to understand the rules on the water. Powering through the pack of sailing boats, Jakob was first to try and avoid the motor-cruisers, which unfortunately for him, further tightened the pack with James just about to take 2nd place again around the 2nd mark (rowing mark). Tom also came out favourably here. Jakob held on to second place though and extended the lead on the way to mark 3. The rest of the pack were all fairly level pegged as they hit mark 3 narrowly avoiding another flotilla of novice motor-cruisers attacking the pack again like a swarm of wasps. Sara requested the motor-cruisers held off, but some crept through through narrowly avoiding the team, but causing a tricky wake to navigate in the process.

Having survived the swarm, between mark 3 and 1, the solo, helmed by James, took 2nd position. Can he hold onto it with Jakob counter-manoeuvring?

It was brief but Jakob took the lead again by the time they approached the rowing mark again, but James was still neck and neck. However, on the run to mark 3, Jakob firmly establishes 2nd position. The pack were now on their final lap. Jakob extended his lead in second position, while Renato has begun to lap the main pack and was just behind James in 3rd position. As Renato headed for home he hugged the east bank avoiding the tide, while the others round mark 1.

In the final lap for the main pack, Jacob struggled to round the red rowing mark, having to put in a little extra tack before the mark. But he was still way in front of James in 3rd. The pack has really split up by this point – partly due to the wind dropping – and as Jakob rounded the final mark, James was rounding the rowing mark 2.

Meanwhile in primo, having followed the east wall the whole way, Renato put in a quick tack with a great gust spurted forwards to approach the FFC. But as he drew close to the finish line the gust had gone, the wind completely dropped off and he was stuck against the tide, but only for a short time.

Could this be due to the new extension of the FFC? And imagine if there had been a pontoon!

Jakob was far ahead in second, but took a different approach to Renato, sailing further from the wall. James – in 3rd – hugged the wall and caught up with Jakob. James caught a great gust as he came away from the wall on the approach to FFC in a similar way to Renato, while Jakob was a little stuck by shifty wind near the FFC.

A gripping finish between the two, both tacking simultaneously all the way to the finish line, trying to take advantage of every gust while battling the strong tide. Jakob was being pulled back against the tide while the rest of the fleet slowly caught up.

Wind appeared to be in the centre of the river where the tide was at its strongest. So should they risk the centre, or stick to the weaker part of the tide?

The wind picked up enough and they stayed close to FFC.

Meanwhile Renato having finished was trying to show everyone they would be better in the centre where the wind was stronger.

In 4th, and catching James was Natalia, but James crossed the line in 3rd position just after Jakob in 2nd. However James, sailing the Solo, had the benefit of the handicap, meaning he finished in 2nd position.

The race was not finished, and action was still afoot, Tom caught a spurt of wind and overtook Natalia in 4th. He then became stationary against the tide.

Will he make it?

The wind picked up for him again and came in 4th across the line. There was a mere 15 seconds separating 4th, 5th and 6th positions.

Meanwhile, Mike appeared to be sunbathing at the back as the wind died. A very cool way to finish across the line.

Despite the drop-off in wind, it was a thrilling race. Thames tide, wind shifts, buildings, wind gusts are all part of the course with Thames sailing, but being mowed down by a swarm of motor-cruisers brought a new dimension to the race. Despite these events the race was masterfully and skilfully conducted by all.

Andrew Molyneux.