8th GW Smith Race Trophy Race, Thursday 21st August

Published 20:02 on 25 Aug 2025

Image by Jonathan Key

On this the penultimate Thursday evening race for 2025, we again had a good entry of 17 boats, a mix of classes, juniors and seniors.

With a light wind that was predominantly from the north northeast but with the usual Tamesis variations within that, OOD Jim Hamilton set a simple sausage course, starting downstream. The start however was not simple. With so much at stake in this race, competition between junior and senior trainers, for the lead in the series, was fierce and too many were too eager at the start, resulting in a very rare general recall. Even with the restart one eager contestant was over the line and had to restart.

Once started, David Baker and Carolyne Vines in their Merlin escaped the gaggle of single handers around them and disappeared into the distance. Behind them competition was fierce with much place changing throughout the race, particularly at the marks. Tim Barr in his Solo for example was 2^nd for much of the race but was caught by a melange of other boats on the last mark dropping to 5^th at the finish with Tim Medcalf, also in a Solo rising up through the fleet to take 2^nd behind David and Carolyne at the finish.

Although there was some place changing in the ILCA7 fleet, Henry Medcalf sailed well to hold 3^rd throughout the race with Tom Bull behind him in 4^th.

Though David and Carolyne had a good lead on the water in their Merlin, the key question was whether they were far enough ahead of the Solos and ILCA7s to take the victory that David needed to give him a chance to win the series. He had, but only by 7 seconds ahead of Tim Medcalf in 2^nd, Tim Barr in 3^rd and Henry Medcalf in 4^th ahead of the series leader to date, Tom Bull. Lyra Wade, 10th in her ILCA7 led the 4 Juniors, including the very young but able Melisa Sener in a Feva and crewed by her Dad, Ilker

This result now means that Tom and David are equal 1^st with 6 points, David leading as his last result was a 1^st. So with a good result for either in the last race, basically a win, could settle the series.

The top 5 currently are:

1^st David Baker and Barbara Adams/Carolyne Vines Merlin Rocket 6 points

2^nd Tom Bull ILCA7 6 points

3^rd Tim Barr Solo 11 points

4^th Matty Key ILCA7 15 points

5^th Tim Medcalf Solo 16 points

Lyra Wade is the leading Junior currently in 6^th on the same points as Tim Medcalf.

Thanks to the OOD, Jim Hamilton and his team in the box of Adrian and Sally Warwick-Haller for dealing with so many boats, and to Chris Pollard and Caroline Stilwell in the patrol boat. The evening was rounded off with a great supper of Lasagne with garlic bread and mixed leaves salad or vegetable pie with garlic bread and mixed leaves salad and with a dessert of Vanilla cheesecake with mixed berries. This and the very lively bar were looked after very capably by Charlotte, Alfie and Maisie.

One more race to go, sadly, but much riding on the last race, so let's see a great fleet on the water and many of you in the clubhouse looking back on the wonderful summer evenings the Saga and G W Smith races have provided us with.

Last updated 20:04 on 25 August 2025