Race 7 - GW Smith Trophy - Thursday, 13 August 2026

Published 12:51 on 15 Aug 2026

In a light breeze from the W/SW the OOD for this Club race was Joe McLaughlin. He set course 'P' for the 16 boats taking part in the 7th race for the GW Smith Trophy. With three Merlins racing and two N18s, the bulk of the fleet was in the ILCA class (including several Juniors). There was one Topper, raced by a Junior.

Being the GW Smith the start was under Handicap flag 'G', at 19:15 with the N18s starting 2 minutes later at 19:19. The NOR is here.

The race on the water was won by Crescendo in first at 19:56:38, with Chimp second at 20:01:59. Tom Bull in third in his ILCA finished at 20:05:47 a full 09 minutes 09 seconds later. Did Tom win? Check the results.

Tamesis Club relies on volunteers. Our thanks to OOD Joe, Box, Patrol Driver and Crew and all the staff at the kitchen and bar.

Flash bails out...

At the start ILCA 195288 'Flash', sailed by your RCS (and author), was aiming for a brilliant start. The plan was to pin starboard boats to windward while port boats also had to keep clear. By sailing slowly up the line on starboard, Flash relied on several primary advantages from the rules, with limitations:

• Approaching the IDM, under Section C Rule 18 (Mark-Room) did not apply, because the IDM is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water. This means Flash did not have to give room to the windward boats to pass between it and the IDM.
• Rule 10 (Opposite tack) - this fundamental rule dictates that "When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat". Definition of Tack: A boat's tack is determined by its windward side. Flash, with the wind coming over its starboard side, was the right-of-way boat against any vessel on port tack.
• Rule 11 (Same tack, overlapped / Windward/Leeward) - since Flash was on the same tack as several boats milling about near the start, all those windward boats were required to keep clear. Keep Clear Definition: A boat keeps clear if the right-of-way boat can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action. There was a limitation to keep in mind... Rule 16.1 Limitation - if Flash luffed to protect its position, she was required to give those windward boats room to keep clear.
• Rule 16.1 - the general limitation that when a boat changes course, she is limited by the requirement to give other boats room to keep clear. Definition of Room: "Room" is the space a boat needs in existing conditions, including space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2, while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way. The Practical Effect: As right-of-way Flash could not "flick" her tiller or make sudden course changes that leave the keep-clear boats with no physical possibility of staying out of the way

The plan was to turn just in front of the IDM, immediately after the start signal, and in doing so gain a windward position on the fleet on a clear line on starboard all the way to the Canbury mark. The best laid plans and all that...

To comply with Sailing Instruction 12.2 all boats are required to pass between the IDM and the opposite (Surrey) bank. With a few seconds to go to the start signal Flash had misjudged speed slightly. Instead of turning before the IDM, Flash went beyond it in order to not be OCS at the start signal. To start correctly between the IDM and the opposite bank Flash now had to gybe to get back towards the middle of the river.

With Flash beyond the IDM the start line was clear and the boats to windward simply ducked the stern and started cleanly at speed and on time. No boats touched the IDM, so no one broke Rule 31.

• To comply with Sailing Instruction 12.3 and SI 9, boats must pass between the Inner Distance Mark (IDM, Flag 'L') and the bank opposite the starting box in use (the Surrey/Kingston bank) when starting.
• And to comply with Rule 31 in relation to the IDM, boats must avoid touching the mark while racing until they have passed the first rounding mark of the course.
• If a boat touches the IDM before starting, or starts and then drifts back onto it, she must take a one-turn penalty.

By the time Flash crossed, only about 8 seconds late, the majority of the fleet were shooting up the opposite bank in a gust. They did have to tack out onto port to fetch Canbury, but the lead boats were able to cross anyone still on starboard. After another tack or two the fleet leaders made the Canbury mark, about 50m ahead of Flash.

The local winds were definitely favouring the opposite bank and boats all ran down to Lensbury, hugging the opposite bank and seeking out the gusts. A starboard rounding on Lensbury was followed by a dogleg in front of the clubhouse, Cadet to starboard and Club to port. Again, after the Club mark rounding, the smart move was to shoot back over to the opposite bank to maintain wind pressure. There is a significant wind hole in the shadows of the large willow beyond the Surbiton rowing clubhouse and the moored boats there. Best avoided.

Two races remain in the GW Smith. See you there?

RCS, Peter Impey

Last updated 13:19 on 15 August 2026