Report from an absent reporter
Last Thursday, 25th July, was the last race in the July set of the GW Smith Thursday evening races, and marked the too too rapid passing of the summer of 2019.
As if to emphasise the occasion the wind started off as a gentle summer zephyr from the south south west and finished up as a fierce wintry squall which upending two boats and drove another onto the Surrey bank.
10 boats experienced these varied conditions, with the Bayliss father and son (Geoff and Tom) in their Merlin leading at the end of reach lap and taking the race on the water. Behind them the N18s of Chris Pollard and Caroline Stilwell battled with Charles Fox and Robert Blakebrough, finishing on the water in 2nd and 3rd respectively, followed by Chris Taggart in his Laser.
Positions changed a little once handicaps had been applied with Chris Taggart taking first, followed by Charles Fox in 2nd and Jim Hamilton sailing his Laser Shy Talk in 3rd, and Bayliss father and son dropping down to 4th and Chris Pollard and Caroline in 5th.
Alden Horowitz sailed well in the Topper to finish the race in 7th on handicap.
Photos Anne Bayne
Laser 130773 Chris Taggart 1
N18 266 Genevieve Charles Fox Robert Blakebrough 2
Laser 120555 Shy Talk Jim Hamilton 3
Merlin 1773 Oozlam Geoff Bayliss Tom Bayliss 4
N18 348 Antedote Chris Pollard Caroline Stilwell 5
Merlin 1136 Shoestring Peter Johnson Carolyne Vines 6
Topper 40070 Alden Horowitz 7
Laser 146170 Storm Ellen Schwartz 8
Merlin 2895 Hispanola JohannesWagner L Wagner 11 (DNF)
N18 336 Orion Alan Green Susan Green 11 (DNF)
Positions overall were little changed by the results with no boat yet sailing the 4 races needed to qualify, so Tim and Ed Medcalf still lead, but the other places are very open at the moment.
So still plenty to sail for in August and a chance to store up a little summer to warm the winter days.
As always the sailing was followed by a convivial evening of good food, drink and talk.