6th GW Smith Trophy Race, Thursday August 8th
Published 17:10 on 12 Aug 2024
Image by Ilker Sener
No lightning this week, but with forecasts of gusts up to 31mph, was this going to be a second cancellation? Thankfully the wind on the river did not live up to the forecasts and provided a very nice although flukey west south-westerly, for which OOD Mike Adams set a dogleg to make sure we were all awake after the day's work.
The turnout was good with 14 boats of which 4 were junior helms, a good sign for the future. Classes represented were 5 Merlins, 4 ILCA7s, 3 Toppers, 1 N18 and a Solo.
By the end of the first lap Charlie Morgan and Alastair Banks in their Merlin were in the lead, a position they never lost. Behind them were Chris and William Balmbro in their Merlin, closely followed by Joe McLaughlin in his Solo, who in turn was followed by Peter Impey in his ILCA7. As the race progressed there was some place changing in the flukey wind with Joe dicing with the Merlin of David Baker and Carolyne Vines for 3rd and 4th, Peter Impey gradually dropping back through the fleet and Charles Fox and Ron Wiliamson in the N18 working their way towards the front of the fleet.
At the finish, Charlie and Alastair were well ahead of Chris and William Balmbro, with Joe not too far behind in his Solo at 3rd, in front of David and Carolyne with Charles and Ron Williamson just behind in 5th.
Peter Impey was the first ILCA7 in 7th place and Max McLaughlin the first of the Toppers in 11th.
Unfortunately for Charlie and Alastair, they had not been far enough ahead of Joe McLaughlin's Solo to save their time, so Joe won, Charlie and Alastair were 2nd in their Merlin, Peter Impey 3rd in his ILCA7 and Chris and William Balmbro 4th in their Merlin.
With this race, Joe McLaughlin in his Solo could start discarding his DNC points and has taken a good lead in the series ahead of Matt P-J in the Rooster 8.1 in 2nd with Lyra Wade 3rd in her ILCA7. While we are sadly approaching the end of the series, the next 3 races could still have a major impact on results, so a good incentive to take part in the final 3 races.
Thanks to Mike and Jennifer Adams in the box, with Ros Warwick-Haller and Jim Hamilton in the patrol boat.
As is his custom Jean-Michel, aided and abetted by Alice and Charlotte in the kitchen and bar, produced up a great supper of roasted sea bass with crushed new potatoes and samphire accompanied by a Greek salad and rocket leaves. Desert was an apple tart tatin with vanilla ice cream.
Last updated 22:17 on 27 April 2025