www.tamesisclub.co.uk/Racereports.htm

"Painful stuff in crawl proceedings" at 2012 Rowsell Sails Merlin Rocket Travellers Series Week 4

With the forecast promising a distinct comedown from the previous week’s mighty conditions, it was perhaps predictable that only 4 teams braved the chilly Thames for the first race of the fourth week of the Rowsell Sails Tammy Travellers Series. However, the longer format race was contested by 15 boats – particularly impressive as 2 teams of Travellers stalwarts were on race and launch duties.

As the teams lined up for the start of the shorter format race, the north-easterly wind was looking promising and the Merlins made good progress downstream to the first mark, set within sight of the clubhouse before heading back up to the Canbury mark set downstream of Stephens Eyot. Wisely, Race Officer David Baker had set a short course and the wind shut down during the second lap to slow proceedings to a crawl. Despite the odd puff, it was pretty painful stuff and the longer format race had to be postponed to allow the competitors in the first race to finish.

Mike Stephens and Sel Shah, sailing Mike’s vintage Merlin took the lead on the first lap and never looked in danger of relinquishing it once the wind died.

1^st Mike Stephens and Sel Shah – Flinkidink (1097)
2^nd Ken Duffell and Brian Corking – Harry (3599)
3^rd Rupert Fletcher and James Berry – Omega (1605)
4^th Chris and Suzy Balmbro – Bad Company (3062)

The longer race saw a slight extension of the course but racing was still within sight of the clubhouse throughout. Occasionally the wind filled but still it was very much a day for the light wind experts. Richard Harris and son Harry were the cream of the crop and were comfortably in front of Mike Stephens at the gun.

Special mention goes to Club Harbourmaster and recent Merlin convert Richard Howells and his crew James Malseed who completed their first race of the winter.

At the half-way point of the series Mike Stephens is in prime position but there are a number of competitors who, if they set the alarm clock early enough to race the first race each Sunday, could challenge Mike for the Travellers crown.

Race 8 Results
1^st Richard Harris and Harry Harris – Passing Cloud (1079)
2^nd Mike Stephens and Sel Shah – Flinkidink (1097)
3^rd David Vines and Sophie Vines – Elusive (3347)
4^th Andy Harris and Katie Cruickshank - Shenandoah (3088)
5^th Peter Mason and Richard Mason – Bambusa (847)

"Grin-inducing conditions" at 2012 Rowsell Sails Merlin Rocket Travellers Series Week 3

With the forecast gusty Westerly actually turning up as scheduled there were plenty of grins all around as the third week of the Rowsell Sails Merlin Rocket Travellers Series drew to a close. Even those who'd taken a swim seemed to have enjoyed the testing but grin-inducing conditions.

Seven Merlins started proceedings by contesting the short-format race. Joe McLaughlin had dusted off his Smart Cookie and drafted in Charlie Morgan as a crew, but it was Mike Stephens and Joe Tosh who took the bullet.

Race 5 Results
Mike Stephens and Joe Tosh – Flinkidink (1097)
Joe McLaughlin and Charlie Morgan – Smart Cookie (3559)
Ken Duffell and Brian Corking – Harry (3599)
Matt Peregrine-Jones and Dana Church – Masquerade (995)
Chris Balmbro and Johannes Wagner – Bad Company (3062)

Race Office Carolyne Vines chose to retain Course P with its dogleg for the second race of the day but moved the downstream mark further down river. With a short reach to the first mark and 13 boats on the water, a number of boats adopted a fairly cautious approach to the start, before screeching off downstream after negotiating the melee at the upstream mark. As the fleet moved downstream the river’s bend turned the reach into a beat and for the return leg upstream most boats flew their spinnakers.

David Vines and Fran Gifford were dominant throughout and almost five minutes separated them crossing the finish line and second-placed Andy Harris and Caroline Croft.

David Vines and Fran Gifford – Elusive (3347)
Andy Harris and Caroline Croft – Shenandoah (3088)
Richard Harris and Harry Harris – Passing Cloud (1079)
Joe McLaughlin and Charlie Morgan – Smart Cookie (3559)
Mike Stephens and Joe Tosh – Flinkidink (1097)

Andy Harris and Caroline Croft (3088) on right of picture (Photo: James Malseed)

The 2012 Rowsell Sails Merlin Rocket Travellers Series entered its second week at Tamesis Club with a strong turn-out of fifteen boats duking it out on a beautiful winter morning. The sun shone brightly, the stream was negligible and, in the second race in particular, the south-easterly wind was made for tight racing.

With the usual array of goodies from Rowsell Sails available to the top-placed crews, four boats set their alarm clocks early and made it out for the first race of the day. Commodore John Adams set a relatively short course with a dogleg in front of the clubhouse. With a fairly fitful Force 2, it wasn’t perhaps the most exciting racing ever seen but two distinct battles broke out with Mike Stephens fending off Matt Peregrine Jones to take first and Ken Duffell getting away from Chris Balmbro to take third. It was only Mike’s crew’s second time in a boat so Mike had clearly managed to teach Judy which bit of string was which pretty quickly.

Race 3 Results
1^st Mike Stephens & Di Fu (Judy) – Flinkidink (1097)
2^nd Matt Peregrine Jones & Dana Church – Masquerade (995)
3^rd Ken Duffell & Brian Corking – Harry (3599)
4^th Chris & Suzy Balmbro – Bad Company (3062)

Series Race 4

The longer format race was contested by fifteen boats and the wind filled to a Force 3 with gusts up to Force 4. After a congested start a simple upstream/downstream sausage took the fleet up to a mark set downstream of Stephens Ait and then to the Lensbury Mark towards the downstream end of Trowlock Island. The top four places were particularly hard-fought with David Vines eventually overcoming Andy Harris to take the win. Throughout the fleet there were constant place changes and tussles over the hour-long race.

The Rowsell Sails Tamesis Merlin Rocket Travellers Series runs until the end of February and results are counted from both the 10:30 and 11:15 races each Sunday. This year, Rowsell Sails are also sponsoring the entire Tamesis Merlin Rocket Winter Series (October to March).

Week 1 of the series had seen Mike Stephens & Matt Peregrine Jones take a bullet each, so it’s Mike and Matt making the early running in the Rowsell Sails Travellers Series at present.

Race 4 Results
1^st David Vines & Fran Gifford – Elusive (3347)
2^nd Andy Harris & Caroline Croft – Shenandoah (3088)
3^rd Jon Redding & Augusta Redding – Pikey (3520)
4^th Mike Stephens & Di Fu (Judy) – Flinkidink (1097)
5^th Matt Peregrine Jones & Dana Church – Masquerade (995)

Jeremy Vines won the Grand Master (over 60) prize in his National 18 Rhapsody (375) for the second year in succession at the 39th annual Bloody Mary pursuit race at Queen Mary SC on Saturday 7 January. He was crewed by David Vines and Olly Houseman and finished 96th overall in an entry of 302 boats from 63 classes and 104 clubs.

The best placed Tamesis boat was the International 14 Frisky Biscuit (GBR1501) sailed by James Fox and Jon Blackburn.

Five other Tamesis members took part. They were Caroline Croft, who was 60th overall helming a 420, her sister, Abigail Croft, 75th helming a 29er, Will and Rob Henderson, 82nd in an RS200, and Arthur Henderson 88th in a National 12.

The race was started by double Olympic gold medallist and former Tamesis member Sarah Ayton.

The races on Boxing day, Monday 26 December, attracted a turnout of only seven boats - two National 18s, two Merlins and three Lasers. The race was enlivened by the presence of a baby seal which swam alongside one of the Lasers for a short time. The winners were National 18s, One over the Eight (349) Doug Pope and Richard Mourant; Merlin
Passing Cloud (1079) Richard and Harry Harris; Lasers, Buzz (39245) Jodok Gerber. The trophies were presented by Lesley Adams, the wife of Commodore John Adams. The Vice Commodore and guests made a passing appearance in a motor boat on their way to Kingston for the sales.

To view video clips of the baby seal and the races please click on the following links

David Vines and Fran Gifford won the Ranelagh Merlin open and the Thames Series in Elusive (3347) for the second year in succession at Putney on Sunday 13 November. Mike Stephens and Nicky Erskine Tulloch were fourth in Flinkidink (1097).

A force 2/3 was enough to keep the boats moving against a pretty fierce incoming tide. There was much checking of rudders and centre boards with all the leaves, trees and other debris rushing down the river and lifting rudders can rarely have been at such a premium, but the fleet coped well. In the end after an hour and a half of close racing David Vines and Fran Gifford came out on top followed by Chris Edwards and Andy Dalby. Mike Stephens came in fourth after his rudder fell off and he lost ground down tide on the first lap. All in all a great days sailing.

On learning of this misfortune one informed Merlin observer commented, "Once is bad luck, twice is careless, and three times becomes something of a habit!"

Mike Stephens won Ariel SC's Trowlock Trophy in a two race individual handicap event at Teddington on Sunday 6 November. He was crewed by Joe Tosh in Flinkidink (Merlin Rocket 1097). They were fourth in the morning race in a cold, gusty northerly wind and first in the afternoon. The Race Officer sent the contestants off on a short downstream beat to a mark off Trowlock Island, with the Toppers first away, and this was followed by an upstream run past Stevens Eyot to an upriver mark on the Canbury reach.

Results: 1 Flinkidink (MR 1097) Mike Stephens & Joe Tosh, 2 (Enterprise 23225) Chris Rowsell & Simone Plassard, 3 Grey Dove (Laser 171688) Stewart Colley.

David Vines has won the Merlin Rocket Thames series with two firsts and two seconds in Elusive (3347) and one race still to be sailed at Ranelagh on Sunday 13 November . He was crewed by Fran Gifford and Maria Gray.

Mike Stephens is currently in second place with 13 points from a first, third, fourth and fifth in Flinkidink (1097), crewed by Nicky Erskine-Tulloch and Konny Muller.

Tamesis wins Three Burgee Trophy

Tamesis won the Three Burgee Trophy after beating visiting teams from Minima YC and Thames SC in six back to back races on Teddington reach in a strong and gusty southerly wind on Sunday 23 October. The members of the winning team were James Fox and Glenda Marsh, David Vines and Charlie Morgan, Matthew Peregrine Jones and Dana Church. The races were sailed in vintage Merlins with each club providing its own boats.

Race Officer Carolyne Vines limited each race to between 10 and 20 minutes with three rounds of a short course in front of the clubhouse.

Racing flags were presented to Andrew Harris (Merlins), Donald Forbes (Lasers) and Ian Burnett (National 18s) as the winners of their races by Joan Catt, manager of the Lifeboat stall, on RNLI day on Sunday 23 October. Entry fees were donated to the RNLI. Please also see report on NEWS page.

The individual handicap pursuit race for the Trafalgar Trophy on Sunday 16 October was sailed in very little wind with a fitful zephyr shifting round all points of the compass, the predominant breeze coming from the south and west. What had been an upstream beat at the start gradually shifted to an upstream reach, then a downstream beat and finally an upstream run.

With the autumnal mist hanging over the river, Race Officer Peter Fryer wisely signalled a 30 minute postponement and the 10 starters were eventually led away by Harry Harris in a Topper. In normal conditions the short crourse opposite the clubhouse and dinghy park would have been an easy challenge but the lack of wind necessitated some difficult decisions and these frequently proved to be wrong. The Lasers had to avoid Steve Bartlett when he capsized Jacana with an over enthusiastic roll tack on the start line but were soon making the best of the breeze on a beat to Canbury.

The Merlins followed, but one gave up before its start and another after a couple of rounds. The race gradually became a fight between Andrew Harris and David Soloman in Shenandoah (MR 3088) and Rob Wilder in X-Moth (British Moth 881). Shenandoah pulled ahead at the final rounding of the Lensbury mark and both lapped Jacana before the finish.

Results: 1 Shenandoah (MR 3088) Andrew Harris & David Soloman, 2 X-moth (British Moth 881) Rob Wilder, 3 Jacana (Laser 143088) Steve Bartlett, 4 RTM (Laser 197213) Mike Goldsmith. First Cadet: Topper Harry Harris.

Ben Vines and Eddy Webb were ninth overall representing the Firefly class in the Endeavour Trophy at the Royal Corinthian YC Burnham from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October. Please click on Photo to see picture. Please see for full results.

The International 14 team of James Fox and Jonathan Blackburn wrapped up a successful first season in Frisky Biscuit with an overall third place in the Autumn trophy events in Chichester Harbour on Saturday 15 October. The team, sponsored by http://www.urbanframework.co.uk/ , have had a busy year with events on Lake Garda (achieving a seventh from 24 boats), the World Championships in Weymouth (21^st from 70 boats); and throughout the year the Chichester Harbour series (fourth from 35 boats), the combined results of six events throughout the year. They did not have a very good POW (Nationals) and hope to rectify that next year!

James says "It has been a long but thoroughly enjoyable first season, and it is likely we will look to sail in some of the autumn and winter pursuit races."

Richard and Harry Harris sweep the board in the Sondown

Richard and Harry Harris swept the board in a fleet of 20 Merlin Rockets winning all three races in the Sondown Cup Thames Series open meeting and taking the Queen Elizabeth Bowl for the best placed vintage boat for the third successive year at Tamesis on Sunday 9 October. With the best two of the three races to count, they sailed Passing Cloud (1079) with great tactical skill and pulled away from every challenger to win each race by an impressive margin.
The closest challenge came from David Vines and Fran Gifford in Elusive (3347), who were second in every race but who had the misfortune to be recalled for being slightly over the line in the second race.

There was some close racing for third place between Joe and Tom McLaughlin in Smart Cookie (3559), Matthew Peregrine Jones and Dana Church in Masquerade (995), and Jon and Fenella Redding in Pikey (3520).

In the first race Carolyne Vines, the Race Officer, sent the fleet off on a full six round course in a moderate WSW wind with double east-west doglegs in front of the clubhouse. The course for the second race was extended down river to Lensbury for three rounds in a slightly stronger wind. The final race, in which there were only 14 starters, was sailed in a more north westerly wind which gave a good downstream beat and the opportunity to fly a spinnaker upstream.

There were visitors from Fishers Green SC, Hampton SC, Minima YC, Tata Steel SC, Walton and Frinton YC and Wembley SC.

Overall results: Sondown Cup 1 Passing Cloud (1079) Richard & Harry Harris 2 points, 2 Elusive (3347) David Vines & Fran Gifford 4 points, 3 Smart Cookie (3559) Joe & Tom McLaughlin 6 points, 4 Masquerade (995) Matthew Peregrine Jones & Dana Church 7 points, 5 Pikey (3520) Jon & Fenella Redding 10 points.

First race: 1 Passing Cloud, 2 Elusive, 3 Smart Cookie, 4 Pikey, 5 Avenger (1004) Colin Stokes & Caroline Stilwell. Second race: 1 Passing Cloud, 2 Elusive, 3 Masquerade, 4 Splatter (607) Phil Plumtree & Sue Harris, 5 Smart Cookie. Third race: 1 Passing Cloud, 2 Elusive, 3 Smart Cookie, 4 Masquerade, 5 My Fair Lady (3635) John Adams & Fiona Bolwell.

Mike Stephens wins Porteous and Southcott Cups

Mike Stephens and Nicky Erskine Tulloch, last year's winners of the Porteous and Southcott Cups for Vintage Merlins, held on to both trophies at Tamesis after the application of handicaps and discards on Saturday 8 October. Sailing Flinkidink (1097), they built up an impressive lead in the final race to finish first on the water as well as on handicap. Matthew Peregrine Jones and Dana Church had won both the first and second races on the water in Masquerade (995), with Joe and Tom McLaughlin second in Shoestring (3559), but after discarding their worst results in the best two out of three races they dropped to third and second respectively on handicap.

Race Officer Charles Fox set an ideal course for the light WNW breeze with a difficult upstream-downstream dogleg in front of the clubhouse that proved as interesting for spectators sheltering from the cold wind as it was challenging for the 12 competing boats, many of which boosted their progress with spinnakers on the upstream leg. There were visitors from Upper Thames SC and Hollingworth Lake SC. The prizes were presented by Rebecca McLaughlin.

Handicap results: 1 Flinkidink (1097) Mike Stephens & Nicky Erskine Tulloch, 2 Shoestring (3559) Joe & Tom McLaughlin, 3 Masquerade (995) Matthew Peregrine Jones & Dana Church, 4 Splatter (1631) Phil Plumtree & Fran Gifford.

Pete Simmonds holds on to Laser Barometer for fifth year

The last of the four races for the Laser Barometer went right to the wire in a closely fought contest between Pete Simmonds, last year's winner, and Steve Bartlett at the annual open meeting for Lasers at Tamesis on Sunday 2 October. Steve Bartlett, sailing Jacana (143088) in a 16 boat fleet, had already won two of the races, and Pete Simmonds in Atomic (182636) one. Only victory in the final race would allow him to hold on to the trophy for the fifth year in sucession.

A triple dogleg course set by Race Officer Jon Redding provided them with an ideal challenge in a strengthening wind that shifted from south to west at irregular intervals and these two leading contestants gave spectators an exciting exhibition of the very best of Laser sailing. With Donald Forbes in Greylag (188044) and Carolyne Vines (135612) pressing closely behind, they used every opportunity to break through to the lead and then hold on to it. The need to avoid passing river steamers and other power boats going up and down the river gave several chances to both and Bartlett forged ahead at one point only to run into a flat spot. Simmonds meanwhile tacked out from the Surrey bank in a gust to preserve his lead.

Further down the fleet there were some spectacular capsizes, re-roundings after boats had hit the mark and 720s to compensate for collisions, several of them at marks. Everyone enjoyed the warmth and sunshine of the Indian summer.

Overall results: 1 Atomic (182636) Peter Simmonds, 2 Jacana (143088) Steve Bartlett, 3 Greylag (188044) Donald Forbes, 4 Not Really (135612) Carolyne Vines.

David Vines and Fran Gifford won the Merlin open meeting at Hampton SC in Elusive (3347) on Sunday 2 October. Richard and Harry Harris were fourth in Passing Cloud (1079) and Mike Stephens and Nicky Tullett fifth in Flinkidink (1097).

De May Series at Hampton for vintage Merlins won by Mike Stephens

Mike Stephens and Nicky Erskine Tulloch won the open meeting for vintage Merlins at Hampton SC on Saturday 1 October in Flinkidink (1097) with firsts in the last two of the three races. There were 17 entries and the racing took place in warm sunshine and light winds. Matthew Peregrine Jones and Dana Church were fourth in Masquerade (995). Please see http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=159808 for full report.

National 18 UK Inland Championship won by Ian Burnett and Anne Bayne

The National 18 UK Inland Championship, held at Tamesis Club on Saturday 24 September was won by Ian Burnett and Anne Bayne in Zephyr (374).

The racing included some welcome visitors from Chichester Harbour (including one Chichester Harbour 18 now reunited with the main National 18 fleet) and the River Blackwater. The fleet included both Penultimates and the 50 kg lighter Ultimates in a three races ‘no discard’ series, requiring consistent performance in all races. Because of the inevitable speed disparity between boats, the Maddison Cup is for first-on-the-water and the National 18 Cup is for the first-on-handicap, based on a long established handicapping system at Tamesis which handicaps both the boat and the helmsperson.

The racing took place in a quite light wind, fairly constantly from the south, which was helpful for those unfamiliar with the wind vagaries of river sailing. In the first two races, Ultimate Zephyr (374), sailed by Ian Burnett and Anne Bayne, managed (against recent form!) to open out significant leads over the rest of the fleet to finish first. However, within the fleet, visitor Sea Fire (CH7), sailed by David Edmund-Jones and Andrew Young, was putting in a good performance in the Penultimates.

In the third race, Rhapsody (375), sailed by Jeremy and Max Vines, took an early lead with Zephyr and Antedote (348), sailed by Jessica Berney, Kaan Yargici and Kim Waterfield, snapping at her heels right to the end. Rhapsody prevailed as all three boats crossed the line in very close order. Further back, Sea Fire and two other Penultimates, Trojan (334) sailed by Peter Simpson and Mike Adams and Ocatillo (316), sailed by Charles Fox and Ted Neal, were also having their own very tight battle, all crossing the line within 52 seconds, with Sea Fire just two seconds ahead of Ocatillo.

The Handicap Cup result was determined by an exciting RYA/IYRU tie-break, with Zephyr edging it over Sea Fire. All told, this was probably the closest inland championship for some years.

In the evening an Indian buffet supper of chicken tikka, kori lamb and vegetable curry, with jugs of lager on the tables, was enjoyed by 32 competitors and friends. The supper, a great success, was followed by teenage Eighteen sailor, Julia Malseed, presenting the prizes, and a well received talk by Kaan Yargici on the extremely successful (and fun!) European Championships in Cork in July.

Results: Maddison Cup (On-the-Water): 1 Zephyr (374), Ian Burnett & Anne Bayne; 2 Rhapsody (375), Jeremy & Max Vines; 3 Antedote (348), Jessica Berney, Kaan Yargici & Kim Waterfield. National 18 Cup (Handicap): 1 Zephyr (374), Ian Burnett & Anne Bayne; 2 Sea Fire (CH 7), David Edmond-Jones & Andrew Hay; 3 Trojan (334), Peter Simpson & Mike Adams.