Saga Trophy 2025

Published 15:02 on 14 Jun 2025

7^th Saga Trophy Race, Thursday 12^th June

Image by Alastair Banks

Apologies for the lack of race reports for the race so far. One does appear in Tammy Matters each week. However, the series is hotting up and with only two races to go, I thought a more detailed report was merited.

To date we have had some very close racing, each week seeming to favour either the single handers or the double handers. The winds have been typically varied but usually strong enough to keep the boats moving, most of the time.

Thursday 12^th June was fairly typical with a moderate to light wind blowing roughly from the SSW, but with variations in direction and strength.

Nine boats started, 3 Merlins, 3 ILCA7s, a single Solo and a couple of N18s

Rob Hatley, the OOD for the day, sent us upstream to Canbury and gave us a dogleg to keep us on our toes.

There was a very close start with some congestion around the first mark. Gradually the Merlins pulled clear and had a ding dong battle with each boat taking the lead at some time or another, and then being caught as someone else found an elusive puff. John and Zoë Adams in Saltarello managed to take the lead on the last lap and take the winning gun, with David Baker crewed by Carolyne Vines close behind and Charlie Morgan and Tim Ginn finishing 3^rd.

Behind the Merlins, Joe McLaughlin in his Solo and the ILCA7s of Ilker Sener and Peter Impey had a similar battle eventually won by Joe who finished 4^th behind the Merlins, with Ilker taking 5^th. Peter Impey had been caught by Charles Fox and crew Mark Gardner in their N18.

However there was only a couple of minutes between the leader and 7^th place, Peter Impey, not enough for the Merlins to save their time over the ILCA7s and Solo. On handicap Joe in his Solo was the winner, followed by Ilker, Peter and then then John and Zoë 4^th in the leading Merlin.

Overall the position is interesting. Peter Impey in the ILCA7 has had a series of good results and leads the series at the moment. Behind him is David Baker in his Merlin, followed on equal points by Ilker Sener in his ILCA7 and Charles Fox in his N18.

In the pack there are two boats with two wins, Charlie Morgan in his Merlin and Tim Barr in his Solo, who if they sail in the last two races of the series and do well (ie win!) could come through to deprive Peter of his long-held lead. The full results are on the web site at Sailwave results for Thursday Evening Saga 2025 at Tamesis Club 2025

So it is definitely worth sailing the last couple of races, and for viewers, to watch the battle unfold.

Thanks to Rob Hatley, the OOF, and his team of Tim Barr in the box, and Rupert Fletcher, Stewart Colley, with initial assistance from Guy Oury, in the Patrol Boat

Jean-Michel and his team of Maisie and Greta did the honours in the bar and kitchen providing a tasty Lamb and Vegetarian Moussakas with Greek Salad followed by a Baked Vanilla Cheesecake.

Last updated 15:06 on 14 June 2025