Autumn Regatta at Tamesis Club
by John Dunkley 10 Sep 2007 23:30 PDT
8-9 September 2007
Thames A Raters tacking downstream during the Tamesis Autumn Regatta © Richard Mourant
Ninety sailors and 42 boats took part in the Autumn Regatta at Tamesis Club and enjoyed some sparkling sailing on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September.
The light to moderate north westerly wind gave a good downstream beat to Lensbury on both days, with a difficult run upriver in which there were frequent gybes to avoid numerous flat spots. This technique was used by most competitors, but particularly effectively by the 10 visiting A Raters from Thames SC whose masts towered over the treetops. There was plenty of warm sunshine, occasionally blanked out by cloud on both days, and Sunday provided the more summery conditions, but it was the second race on Saturday afternoon that had the best wind of the weekend.
The majestic Thames A Raters enjoyed hotly contested racing, with three boats each scoring eight points from their best three of the four races. After applying the tie break rule, last year's winning helm, Jonathan Smith, was the victor in Scamp (12), crewed by Chris Martin and Steve Bartlett, with two firsts and a sixth. Ulva (8), helmed by Tim Carpenter, was second with two seconds and a fourth, and Carina (5), helmed by Sam Christie, was third counting a second and two thirds.
Mike Stephens took the Merlin honours in Luka (3560), crewed in two races by Oscar Addis and the others by Andy Douglas, with two firsts and a second. Andrew and Naomi Harris were second in Omega (1605), counting a first, second and third.
Peter Simmonds convincingly outsailed eight other Lasers in Atomic (182636) to take a first in each of the four races, with Scott Stewart second in (143088), counting two seconds and a fourth.
The prizes were presented by Tamesis Commodore Peter Mason on the club lawn in the late afternoon sunshine and there was a barbecue on Saturday evening following the racing.
Overall Results:
Thames A Raters
1 Scamp (12) Jonathan Smith, Chris Martin & Steve Bartlett, Thames SC
2 Ulva (8) Tim Carpenter, Lisa Stewart & Karen Armitage, Thames SC
3 Carina (5) Sam Christie, Andrew Christie & Todd Wells, Thames SC
Merlin Rockets
1 Luka (3560) Mike Stephens & Oscar Addis/Andy Douglas, Tamesis
2 Omega (1605) Andrew & Naomi Harris, Tamesis
3 ? (3520) Jon & Joanna Redding, Tamesis
4 Smart Cookie (3559) Peter & Richard Mason, Tamesis
Lasers
1 Atomic (182636) Peter Simmonds, Tamesis
2 (143088) Scott Stewart, Tamesis
3 (141564) Nicole Szabason, Tamesis
Cadets
1 Kiwi (9078) Mary & Arthur Henderson, Tamesis
2 Sizzerin' Hot (8333) Anna & Charlie Whyte, Tamesis
National 18s
1 Rhapsody (375) Jeremy Vines & Maxine Webb, Tamesis
Firefly
1 Gigi (2319) Will & Mandy Henderson, Tamesis
Handicap
1 Petronella (Solo 4616) Peter Fryer, Tamesis