Sail Chat - 27th July

Weak breeze from the NNW only really made its self available off Bell Hill, the rest was Surrey bank hugging and tacking. Marks were E upstream and I down, set by race team of John Heath and Tim Harmes (helped by Millie). Richard Page was timekeeping. Good show by the Comets, Peter, James, David and Paul with Llew (welcome visitor from Scotland, which does not have its own language apparently). I sailed in an Enterprise with Sarah Peacock and the Vice Commodore sailed hers with Hannah. Welcome back to Elise in her RS. The fleet sailed in a fairly tight bunch for most of the race but a considerable lull upstream and a few extra puffs down split the fleet on the last lap.

In the afternoon The Comets had the same show in the afternoon with George and Chris out and David had grandson Sasha as crew. Nigel joined them in his Solo. The GP's and the Enterprises set off together with John/Sue and Trevor with Susan. Three Ents Ian with Sarah P, Jane with Ellen and me with other grandson Guy, Guy is fairly opinionated and gave me some valuable tips, unfortunately he is about 3 kilo's and I many more so the boat tipped much to windward! Eventually we retired and Guy sailed us in.

In the Merlins were Stu with Nicola, Andrew with Claude and HSC cycle club co-ordinater John B with Deirdre. Rather challenging conditions which really needed a closer mark up river for the slow boats.

Very nice tea provided by Dorothy and Susie. I actually consumed the two cake award and found the fruit cake to be sensational. Just a plea, please take the goose fence down before trailing your boat along with it up. The boom and main sheet have a tendency to wreck it! I know it is not very effective but John Hollands and others spend considerable time constructing it.

Phill

Last updated 3:41pm on 26 August 2025