Trafalgar Trophy 19th October 2025 There was a lot of trepidation around the weather forecast during the week leading up to Sunday. When would it start raining, and would we get any wind? In the event there was quite enough wind, Merlins carrying their spinnakers and the rain didn't really start until later. Thirteen boats turned out for the annual Trafalgar Trophy Handicap Pursuit. The light southerly meant the course was set with the start upstream, the windward in sight of the club. The leeward mark was dropped just out of sight, buoys. The wind was filling in quite nicely from the south, so the course was an upstream start with the downstream mark dropped just out of sight. Marks rounded to Port. The Trophy which is a print of a picture of the Battle of Trafalgar was presented to the club in 2005 the 200th anniversary year of the Battle of Trafalgar by late and much missed members John and Rita Dunkley. The race is always held as close as possible to the actual day of the Battle 21st October. The weather might have been more accommodating, but life was complicated by the appearance of a large raft of leaves slowly drifting downriver, heading in the direction of the Distance Mark just before the first start. The Distance Mark had to be moved further midstream in case it was engulfed by the mass of leaves and starts were delayed to allow for this. Tim Medcalf in his Solo was first away, followed two minutes later by the five ILCA7s, the six Merlin Rockets eight minutes later, then lastly the lone National 18' two minutes after that. Tim was going very fast, but was slowly reeled in by Tom Bell in his ILCA7. The other ILCAs were always close Lyra Wade, John Kemp and Ros Warwick-Haller constantly changing places. Joe McLaughlin and Sean Roberts in their Merlin After Myth were in front of Richard and Maddy Harris in Passing Cloud for the first three rounds, but then Richard and Maddy were able to get Joe and Sean. David Baker and Barbara Adams in Merlin Chimp were not far behind. Alison Cooper and Andrew Craig in National 18' Zephyr were slowly making their way up the fleet, but the wind did not give them an advantage. The last round was a thriller with Tom Bull closely covering Tim Medcalf. Would Tim get past Tom, would Tom hold the lead? Tamesis III was used as a finishing platform, the bell and hooter being sounded at precisely 12:38, while motoring slowly alongside Tim and Tom. In the event, Tom was able to hold his lead, Tim only just behind him. Richard and Maddy, Joe and Sean had overhauled the ILCA7s to come third and fourth. Lyra Wade in an ILCA7 not far behind in fifth. The prizegiving was held shortly after in the clubhouse. Tom Bell was delighted to receive the Trophy, other prizes going down to fourth place. My thanks to the Race Team for their calmness and good humour - Ilker Sener in the box, Simon Thompson and Tom Jones in the Patrol Boat. Additional thanks go to Chris Pollard for assisting with the starts. Thanks also to the staff in the kitchen and bar who kept us fed and watered. 1st ILCA7 208809 Tom Bull 2nd Solo 5089 Tim Medcalf 3rd Merlin 1079 Richard and Maddy Harris 4th Merlin 3054 Joe McLaughlin and Sean Roberts Race report: Carolyne Vines | 
