Rob Wilder and his young daughter Milly won the top prize Easter egg

in their Merlin Rocket Flinkidink (1097) at the Tamesis Easter Regatta

on Monday 6 April. The prize was awarded to the best placed boat in

both the morning handicap race, in which there were 15 entries,

started from the Tamesis line, and the afternoon pursuit, which was

started from the Ariel line, with nine entries.

Participating boats included National 18s, Merlins, Lasers, an

Enterprise and a Wayfarer.

 

The morning race was won by Donald Forbes in Greylag (Laser

188044) and the afternoon pursuit by the National 18 Ocatillo (316),

sailed by Charles Fox and Steve Katz. The rules provided that a boat

which had won a prize in race one should forfeit her prize in race two

to the next placed boat. Flinkidink was third in the morning and

second in the afternoon.

 

Making the best of a strong and gusty NE wind, Race Officers John and

Jean Meredith set a course with a downstream start to a Lensbury

mark midway down Trowlock Island, followed by an upstream run to

a Canbury buoy just short of Steven’s Eyot.

 

Patrol boats were manned by Peter Simpson and Jim Hamilton.

RYA coach Ben Kimbell offered advice from the Dory on how to go

faster.

 

The regatta was organised by Tamesis Rear Commodore Alan Green,

who also competed in the Tamesis Wayfarer, crewed by his wife,

Susan, in the afternoon race and single handed in his National 18 in

the morning.

 

There was a good turnout of spectators who, with the sailors, enjoyed

a lunch of roast lamb with a choice of vegetables, soup and

sandwiches, with tea and hot-cross buns in the afternoon. Alan

thanked the ladies in the kitchen for their contribution to a most

enjoyable Easter regatta.