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End of Year 2023 Racing at Tamesis

Published 18:28 on 1 Jan 2024

No racing took place on Sunday 24th December - Christmas Eve

Sunday 31st December

Report by Marcus Chavasse

Photos by Chris Wade

Despite forecasts for swirling "named storms" around the British Isles, the conditions were just right for some good racing for those who turned out on New Year's Eve. Race Officer Marcus Chavasse set a compact course upstream loop course with (struggling with his better judgement here) marks to starboard to assist with turning into the stream from the Surrey bank.

In the Blue race, ILCA sailor Ilker Sener found wind in the middle of the channel giving Joe Woods and Ken Duffell a run for their money. Both boats were awarded a first place since they were from different classes.

The White race saw place changes between John Adams and Lyra Wade and Ken Duffell and Joe Woods in the Merlins. Ken and Joe prevailed. The ILCA race was a hotly contested duel between Ilker and Peter Impey. Despite some confusion about whether their race had finished (which had no effect on the relative positions), Peter was leading by a quarter of a boat's length on the final beat when he caught the wind the wrong way, capsizing and leaving Ilker to take the line honours. Peter reflected "This was well worth coming down for".

Alison Cooper persuaded her husband to go out with her taking N18 Zephyr for an uncontested sail round the marks.

Thank you to my race/ patrol boat team Jim Green, Charles Fox and Robert Blakeborough.

Competitors and other members alike gathered in the clubroom afterwards for a welcome drink at the bar and light lunch.