Sail Chat Saturday 23rd & Sunday 27

After a magnificent supper, on Saturday, in honour of our outgoing Commodore, who sadly could not attend at the last minute due to a family bereavement, Sunday offered a blustery southerly with some big gusts. In the morning there were only four out David Solo, James Bay Comet, Brian Comet and Claude Pico. Interesting course set by race team of Nigel and James, with an upriver mark in sporadic wind and a down river mark at I for a gybe and then a beat to H Middlesex and one tack (if you stood on far enough) to H Surrey. It was particularly gusty opposite the Church. From what I viewed the Comet was giving the Solo a good challenge.

In the afternoon Nigel set us all off together with two Merlins Richard with Philip and John with Hannah, two Enterprises having a very close race with numerous place changes at the tricky windward mark, in them Ian with Ellen and me with Jane. One GP Derek with Sue and in the Handicap fleet was David Solo, James Peel Comet and Brian Comet. The key was hugging the Surrey bank, to attempt a fast fetch across the river and tack back was detrimental as the wind direction dictated going back across the river and below the lay line. Just after the start James Peel was capsized in a violent gust but then showed that Comet's can be recovered quickly, perhaps height helps?

Nice licky tea from Angela and Ellen, Excellent timekeeping by Margaret and Maureen and bar by Philip McHardy.

Last updated 4:14pm on 13 May 2024