Sunday 16th September 2018 – Eric Finlayson reports:
Ten knots of SSW wind no stream and 27 degrees. What’s not to like ?
On Sunday Carolyne our Commodore presented certificates to seven of our students for a variety of courses.
We also welcomed two new members, enjoyed the barbecue and had a great afternoon sailing .
Many of our younger students are now doing stage 4 after which they are eligible to do advanced courses such as Seamanship Skill or Start Racing .
We are considering doing a Start Racing course in October subject to demand.
The sun shone down on this year’s bbq which was enjoyed by over 60 members – old and new. Nicky Johnson organised, aided by bbq chefs Peter Johnson and Paul Jamieson, and Sara Jamieson supervised the salad distribution. Jo Carstens prepared all the salads from scratch helped by Dan, Nick Forbes and Josefine ran the bar. The house committee baked up a storm of cakes for afters.
On Saturday 15th September the Cadet sailors at Tamesis held their annual regatta, 12 sailors in all, 8 Toppers and 3 Optimists took to the water for a two-race event sailed in a 5 – 10 westerly breeze. The OOD set a challenging Course P with a short upwind leg across the river, which all of the Cadets negotiated to complete two laps per race. The winner of the Toppers was Matt Valentine, followed by Tom Harris with Mattie Key in 3rd, the winner of the Oppy class was Sara Krueger, followed by Huw Mclaughlin and Sebastian Hoo in 3rd position.
After the prizegiving, the Commodore Carolyne Vines formally opened the newly renovated Cadet facility cutting the ribbon beautifully designed by Bella McDonald and thanking all those who had been involved in the design and building of the new veranda. (namely Sue Yargici and Kaan Yargici for the idea, Colin Stokes for design and considerable admin, and last but not least, Charles Fox for such a super building job)
All of the competitors and helpers were then rewarded with lashings of tea and cake.
Andrew Harris
See link for photos https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNOQQLoIweHAK_af60DlcTZvjPL8PBbwv8TLLHo
Rob and Helen Wilder took part in the 2018 Tasar Nationals hosted by Hayling Island SC. They came 20th out of 41 and had a great time in the process. Full report on the following link: https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/209889/Tasar-UK-Nationals-at-Hayling-Island
The Toppers above Stevens Ait – photo Eric FinlaysonJohn Edmondson and Lucian Schwartz in the Laser 2000 – photo Eric Finlayson
Eight of our students took part in the regatta racing on Sunday .
Despite a particularly challenging course everyone stuck it out gaining a lot of experience which they enjoyed .
Our newest member Alex was introduced to the joys of Optimist sailing with help from Leon who has started Assistant Instructor training .
We plan to run training as “normal” next Sunday.
Tim and Veronique Medcalf in Cindy rounding the dog leg mark. photo Matthew DaltonOptimus Prime – photo Matthew DaltonAlbacore Cobblers sailed by David Baker and Jim Green streaking ahead in the Handicap Class – photo Matt DaltonThe third race
We woke up to a blustery south westerly which got stronger as the day went on. Tamesis welcomed several visitors from Minima YC in the shape of three Lasers and three Enterprises, together with many home grown competitors very new to racing most of whom are taking part in the RYA sailing instruction courses.
Race Officer Alan Green sent the fleet halfway up the Canbury reach. We had a beat and a run interspersed with several windshifts. A welcome change from the drifters in recent weeks. The third race took place in front of the club.
Albacore Cobblers sailed beautifully by David Baker and Jim Green left the rest of the handicap for dust, despite the Enterprises being sailed very well.
The Toppers were won by Henry Medcalf, sailing very well to complete every race.
The two National 18s were unable to compete in the last race, but Optimus Prime’s first outing at Tamesis with Kaan Yargici at the helm crewed by co owner Matt Jones and Zephyr sailed by new owner Henry Defries with Jenny Defries were a welcome sight.
The Merlins started with four boats, but Berry Ritchie and Sue Harris in Crescendo were forced to retire with a considerable leak. Tim and Veronique Medcalf won two of the races from Peter Johnson and Paul Jamieson in Shoestring. Barry Mourant and Ian Ramage won the first race in Fair Kop.
Link to Chris Starr’s photos: https://www.flickr.com/x/t/0095009/gp/136048981@N07/762Dyr/
With three out of three races to count the results were as follows:
Merlins
1st Cindy Tim and Veronique Medcalf
2nd Shoestring Peter Johnson and Paul Jamieson
Lasers
1st Marcus Chavasse Tamesis
2nd Alastair Banks Minima YC
3rd Keith Payne Minima YC
4th Jim Houstan Minima YC
Toppers
1st Henry Medcalf
Handicap
1st Albacore Cobblers David Baker and Jim Green
Enterprises
1st Two Bees Robin and Paul Broomfield Minima YC
2nd Alanah Alex and David Cane Minima YC
3rd Red Ent Richard Shillito and Carolyne Vines
Novice Handicap Fleet participants
Laser 2000 21207 John Edmundson Lucian Schwartz
Laser 2000 21760 Anton and Alden
Topper 40070 Alex Hoo
Topper 36316 Edward Buss
Topper 29672 Lorenzo de Bilio
Topper 15138 Dianora de Bilio
Topper 37597 Peter
Thanks to Race Officer Alan Green, assisted by Susan Green and Jan Prince, together with Patrol Boat Stewart Colley and Chris Starr, and Howard Thatcher and Ellen Schwartz. Overall organisation and entry taking/results was handled adeptly by Brian and Caroline Timbrell. Handicaps were worked out by Chris Pollard
On the day we had only a couple of newbies and all the existing students wanted to RACE .
Mal and Eric swapped roles and the race officer kindly agreed to a fifteen minute delay to the notional 11.30 start of the Handicap.
With a lot of help from parents and others we got several Toppers on the water and pointed about in the right direction for the start.
We managed not to sink any of the keen racers so I would like to resurrect the 11.30 handicap as a way to get students into racing and will try to get as many students as possible involved in the regatta.
Big thanks to Peter and Robert for helping out on safety boats and a big thank you to Ros , one of our first in house AIs for looking after a level 1 day 1 student.
The question of numbers for training isnt much clearer , several of our existing students finished their current courses but want to go on to the next stage!
I am considering extending training to mid October if weather and effort permit.
TopperGenevieve on her way down to the racing on Sunday – low tide
The 2018 Classic Boat Revival hosted by Bosham SC was combined with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ian Proctor, renowned boat designer and sailor.
Boats of many classes came from far and wide, including the first Topper, various Ospreys, Wayfarers, Bosun nr 1, Gul nr 1, Tempests, Wanderers, a Mini Sail and so on. Genevieve was present as the first fibreglass National 18, which was designed by Ian Proctor. She was the only plastic National 18 competing – the other 18s were all clinker built.
Three Tamesis boats attended – National 18′ Genevieve sailed by Jeremy Vines, Max Vines, Carolyne Vines and Stewart Colley, and two merlins Jabberwocky sailed by Dana Church and Jenny and Emmeline sailed by Tim Medcalf and friend. Genevieve was 15th overall and Jabberwocky 19th. Emmeline was sadly involved in a collision and retired after the second race.
The fleet was treated to some champagne sailing on both days. The south easterly wind meant it was impossible to lay the desired triangular course, so the large fleet of classic boats were treated to an exciting trip round the cans in Chichester Harbour. Saturday was rounded off by a tasty meal in the clubhouse accompanied by an excellent guitarist. The prize giving took place on Sunday after
Over 100 guests sat down for the Ian Proctor Centenary dinner on Friday night. The speech by Ian’s son was a real eye opener to his father’s considerable talent.
Our thanks go to Andrew Young for such fantastic organisation over the weekend.
Well that’s it for 2018. The plus size lady has sung and the summer evening series are over for 2018.
Eleven boats started the ninth and final race in a wind that went from being very light to pretty nonexistent, causing three of the twelve to retire and the unfortunate box and boat crews to finish the last obstinate crews in the dark. Nonetheless Ken Duffell and Matthew Valentine in their Merlin Avenger managed to coax enough out of the wind to win, finishing over ten minutes ahead of Rupert Fletcher and Robert Blakebrough in Omega, just back from an overhaul. Ros Warwick-Haller in her Laser, Dragonfly and John Adams were third and fourth on the water and on handicap.
The evening was rounded off with a pleasant supper and conviviality.
Twenty five different helm and boat combinations competed in the GW Smith series with 11 sailing the four races needed to qualify. There was a range of classes represented, including Toppers on a few occasions helmed by junior members of the club. Of the qualifiers, four were Merlins, three Lasers, two N18s and two Fireflies.
Charles Fox in his N18, Genevieve, mainly crewed by Robert Blakebrough, was the winner, counting four firsts. Ken Duffell crewed by his grandson Matthew Valentine also had a couple of wins to finish second, with another Merlin, Precious, helmed by John Adams and crewed on most occasions by Zoe Adams finishing third. Ros Warwick-Haller was fourth in her Laser, Dragonfly, qualifying in the last race with a determined performance. A Firefly, Scallywag, helmed by Tim Medcalf and crewed on most occasions by Ed Medcalf took fifth place.
We must thank all the box and boat crews for their efforts to give us a sail in some very trying conditions and Nicky Johnson and her staff for the meals which help to round of a very enjoyable set of Thursday evenings.
Just a reminder that for those who want to check out the wind before the main Sunday races, who prefer the slightly less cutthroat nature of the handicap racing or like sailing a different kind of boat, there is a handicap race at 10.30 on most Sundays.
Otherwise we hope to see you for the 2019 Summer evening series.
For the 8th and penultimate race in the GW Smith series twelve boats came out to race in a skittish wind roughly westerly in direction, that at times gusted high enough to provide a plane or two but around the upstream mark was sometimes easterly sometimes westerly and everywhere in between, and sometimes not there at all.
Tim Medcalf, guest helming Fair Kop with Barry Mourant at the sharp end started well and was never headed. Behind them John and Zoe Adams in their Merlin had a running battle with Charles Fox and Rob Blakebrough in N18 Genevieve and although the Adams managed to finish ahead on the water, Charles and Robert took the race on handicap. Behind these three there was much place changing, probably reflecting the highly variable wind, but Stewart Colley in his Laser came through from ninth at the end of the first laptop to finish fourth on the water and third on handicap just ahead of Graham King, in his Laser who himself was ninth at the end of the second lap.
Overall there are nine who have qualified with four races sailed and two more, Stewart Colley and Ros Warwick-Haller also able to do so if they sail the last race of the season. With his victory in this race, his fourth in the series, Charles cannot be caught. Ken Duffel is still second and the Adams third, but there is still potential for places to change throughout the fleet so the final story will not be told until the end of the last race next week.
Thanks to Nicky Johnson and her team for a great supper to bring the evening’s activities to a very satisfactory end.
Note that the last race in the series will be at the earlier time of 7pm for the main fleet and 7:02pm for the National 18s to fit a decent length race in before the light fades. Time for a last fond farewell to the summer so let’s have a great turnout and hope that the wind blows fair.
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