8th Saga Trophy Race, Thursday 20th June
Published 17:07 on 21 Jun 2024
This was another evening where just enough of a wind filled in to hold the race. Its direction was extremely variable and with a few dead patches amongst the puffs, but the sun shone, and it felt like a summer evening for a change.
Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps the need to consolidate positions in the series, but there was a good turnout of 15 boats. The ILCA7s made up the bulk of the fleet with 6 entries followed by the Merlins with 3 and then 2 each of N18s, Solos and Toppers.
Jim Hamilton, the OOD laid a simple sausage course giving a beat, for most of the time, downstream to Lensbury, then a run/beat/reach back upstream to Canbury. After a good start, Peter Johnson and Paul Jamieson in their Merlin had the lead around the first mark, but were overhauled by David Baker and Barbara Adams in their Merlin and they slipped smoothly along to finish first on the water. Behind them the was plenty of place changing in the shifty wind between Peter and Paul in their Merlin, Henry Medcalf and Jon Redding in their ILCA7s and Tim Medcalf in his Solo. At the finish it was Jon who followed David and Barabara, with Henry Medcalf in 3rd and Tim following his son over the line in 4th. Peter and Paul were the only other boat not to be lapped and were 5th across the line.
Unfortunately for David, who was looking to win to take the race for the overall trophy to the last race, he did not finish far enough ahead of the single handers to win on handicap. In 1st was Tim Medcalf in the Solo, followed by Jon Redding in his ILCA7 in 2nd, then David and Barbara in their Merlin in 3rd, with Henry 4th in his ILCA7.
While I might have been premature in my initial report for last week's race in predicting a series win for Tim Medcalf, he has now won the Saga Series, counting an unassailable 4 first places. Behind him there is still room for place changing between David in his Merlin, currently 2nd, a single point ahead of Matt P-J in his ILCA7, with Charles Fox in his N18 in 4th.
So a good reason for coming down next week either to sail and influence the final placings, or to watch the action unfold and have a great meal either way.
Thanks to Jim Hamilton as OOD, assisted in the box by Alison Cooper and with Philip Worsley and Geoff Malseed in the patrol boat.
Jean Michel assisted by Jack and Jennifer in the kitchen and bar provided a delicious supper of lamb moussaka accompanied by mixed leaf and Greek salads and followed by summery strawberries and cream.
Last updated 18:47 on 20 October 2024