Tamesis Annual Regatta 2024
Published 18:44 on 12 Sep 2024
Tamesis was delighted to welcome several visitors from Minima YC and Twickenham YC. The club was buzzing throughout the day, with lots of happy faces. We had a total of twenty eight entries.
The day started a bit damp with hardly a breath of wind. It seemed to be a southerly, but we really weren't sure. The course was set in sight of the club with a port hand rounding of the loop, boats starting upstream. OOD Chris Pollard set an optimistic eight rounds.
The first of three races were off on time, but actually crossing the line turned out to be slightly painful for some. There was a bit of stream, which didn't help. Everyone got round, but it was a test of patience and skill. A seal came to join the fun, surfacing to look around and find the course, then disappeared again - we think upstream.
The sun came out in time for the lunch break after the first race. The club was busy busy with competitors, their families and friends. The front was crowded with people enjoying the sunshine, sandwiches and drinks from the bar.
Fewer rounds were set for the second race and third races. Wind came up in patches and the sun stayed out making everything much more enjoyable.
The intention was to run class racing for the Merlins, ILCAs (Lasers), National 18' with a handicap fleet. In the end the entry in the handicap fleet was six Enterprises and five Solos, so the fleet was split by class. All three races counted.
In the Merlin fleet Richard Harris and Chris Martin in Passing Cloud ran away with three wins. Joe McLaughlin and Sean Roberts in After Myth were second with three seconds and Tim Medcalf and Humphrey Pedlar in Crossbow were third with three thirds.
The ILCA fleet was more hotly contested with wins by Peter Impey, Alexey Anatskiy, and in the vital last race Lyra Wade. Congratulations to all three for their first race wins. This meant that Lyra won in the ILCA fleet. A first trophy for her and a double whammy being first girl and the only junior. Well done Lyra. Well done also to Marie Dong for competing in her first proper race as a helm.
The National 18' racing was also close with Alison Cooper and Steve Williams in Zephyr taking line honours twice ahead of Charles Fox and Robert Blakeborough in Genevieve. Well done Alison first trophy in the National 18's.
The Enterprise fleet was led throughout by Ed Mayly and James Budden from Minima YC. Robin Broomfield and Paul Bloomfield from Minima YC were second with two seconds and a third, Robert Brignell and Edward Skinner from Twickenham YC were third with a second third and fourth.
In the Solo fleet things were not so clear cut. Tim Barr from Tamesis won one race and had two seconds, with Alastair Banks from Tamesis getting two first and one second. Alastair won the last race coming from behind to win the series. Nick Titley from Twickenham YC was third with two thirds and a fourth.
Competitors and friends alike gathered for tea, cake and drinks for the Prize Giving. Vice Commodore Ros Warwick-Haller presented the prizes, Hon Sailing Secretary Peter Impey reading out the names of the winners. Ed Mayly as leading visitor thanked the club for running the Regatta.
Many thanks to all the Race Crew led by OOD Chris Pollard, with Jennifer and Mike Adams and Carolyne Vines helping in the box, Chris Wade and Mike Adams in the Patrol Boat. Jennifer Adams and Carolyne Vines for taking the entries. Ros Warwick-Haller for helping with the results. Peter Impey, Hon Sailing Sec for overall organisation of the event. Colin Stokes did a superb job of laying out the Prize table.
Many thanks also to the hardworking house crew for keeping us fed and watered. Namely Josie W, Charlotte W and Mae.
It was a great day improved enormously by the support from Minima and Twickenham, not forgetting the afternoon sun. Members from both visiting clubs expressed the desire to return next year, and also for the Travellers' event from January to March.
Report Carolyne Vines. Photos Chris Wade. More of his photos available on the Tamesis Facebook page.
Last updated 19:17 on 18 November 2024