South Bank Sailing Club Blog

Sunday 20th October 2019 The Campbell Downriver originally looked like there was going to be no wind. Then it looked like there was going to be too much wind. But on the day we had perfect sailing conditions, even if a wee bit chilly for those unfortunate enough to find themselves in safety boats. We had a fleet of six single handlers. Renato (In a Laser of course), Sally (in a Laser of course), Jakob (in a Laser continuing to confuse towpath-ers that an Estonian 2012 Olympic sailor was on the loose), Sara and Allan each in their own Solos and finally Chris  in a delightfully looking Streaker (ignorance had me check this was the correct name for a boat…). For the race team and safety boats, we had the splendid support of Ollie Bennett, David Barton-Grimley, Amy Swash and myself (Richard Graham). As my downriver tide predicting history isn’t without a blemish, we made sure the boats were off within a safe period of time from the ‘on the water’ deadline. This is one of the most difficult...

Sunday 27th October It was a beautiful, bright and cool day at Putney reach for this year’s Bernard Driver trophy race, which attracted a healthy nine boats. To fit with the event’s ethos of providing a slightly more challenging race, a ten lap course was set (laps to be reduced if needed) with a view to ensuring 90 minutes or so of racing. The breeze was from a good direction (NW) for a local race on the rising tide, but light at first, so we went for a simple sausage course along the Fulham side of the river. Ben and Sina in the Albacore had an excellent start, getting a number of boat lengths ahead almost immediately. The first lap was overall slow but after the first mark the fleet made its way steadily back against the tide from the Crabtree direction. The Albacore was still just ahead at the end of lap 1 with Allan very close behind in his Solo. Almost twenty minutes had passed since the start, and with a post race lunch planned it seemed a dramatic shortening of the race would b...

Sunday 22nd September 2019 A rainy day found the club in a dither: do we stay indoors and watch the end of England-Tonga on the nice comfy sofas, or get out there and face nature’s onslaught? Sailors at that point constituted Sally and a reluctant Mike. “Let’s call it in 15 mins,” said Jane SH. “If we get three willing sailors, we’ll give it a go.” Just as some of us were snuggling down into the sofas, enter Henry and an irresistible positive mindset! Further attempted dithering ensued but those of us listening carefully to the club’s Lords Pannick and Keen could see the balance was shifting inexorably towards a watery end. The President of the Court called it: “We’re going!” said Jane. After the gun, the three sailors were neck and neck with zero wind but, happily, abated rain. By the time the safety boat (4 in a boat: Jane, Kev, me and daughter, Freddy) had got itself organised with much judicious paddling (turns out you need the engine on to drop it down!) and the kill cord finally ...

A farewell to much-loved member Leo, deserved a fitting event. Led by Chris B (race officer extraordinaire) with Ray and Jim C in the safety boat, a number of chaotic and confusing races was the main order of the day. The “dizzy race” where everyone had to go round each buoy three times made for some close encounters (great to meet you new members Toby and Helena) and made some of us worry we’d have no club boats left by the end of the day.  In line with the style of the day most boats decided two turns was enough and rushed to the finish line to claim victory and improve their chances of winning the regatta’s prestigious Leo Spoon. The “tennis ball” race had sailors turn into shotput wannabes as everyone quickly realised that throwing tennis balls at other boats (forcing them to either collect the ball or do a 360, or both – I was never quite sure to be honest – was a far more effective way to win the race than to try sail well. Intersper...

A merry band of sailors with courage and stamina made the trip to Strand on the Green for the annual Strand Challenge Trophy. You can read Strand’s race report here (Look for 1st September).      

Sunday 25th August 2019  Race Officers and SB1: Jane and Sina SB2: David F, Meredith and daughter Georgia It was the last race of the summer series and Bevington trophy, in scorching heat of 29C with SSW winds forecast 7 gusting 12mph.  A very warm start at 15.08  for the eight boats and our ten liberally sun-screened sailors. The course was from the club start line to a finish at the turn of the tide somewhere close to the Battersea pagoda. However with light winds the ROs marked the finish line just before Battersea bridge between an anchored a yellow buoy and the ROs in SB1 on the beach opposite. Race A downriver: The jolly safety boat 2 crew at the rear of the fleet observed Jakob cross the start line first, followed by Chris, Alan, Peter, Sara, James, Jorik and Matthias.  And then some excitement ~ shortly into the race Jorik’s mast was pinned underneath Putney Bridge. He cleverly managed to free himself without safety boat assistance. As the race progressed the wind grew rather s...

Sunday 12th August. A windy summer’s evening, with forecasted gusts into F6 meant downriver racing was changed to local racing. A long sausage course was laid between Crabtree Wharf and Putney Hard, with the additional tactical requirement to be mindful of draught as the fleet raced at the bottom of the tide. Steph opted for a tactical up-tide start, ducking line on the start signal and leading the pack at the start, however a couple of early capsizes cost her a few places during the first leg. The fleet continued a downwind reach to the leeward mark, laid off Crabtree wharf, with Joe Driver leading the Laser pack on the approach to the first windward rounding. Renato was snapping at his heels as they approached the windward mark, laid off Putney PDC, and despite her early capsizes, Steph worked her way back to the head of the fleet, with barely a boat length separating first and fifth place as the laser pack passed the finish line for lap 1. Leonardo and Henry both took turns at ...