Sail Chat - 19th October 2025

Strong southerlies and rain forecast but much of the wind seemed high up for most of the gloomy day. On the river it was quite a gentle breeze with the occasional interesting puff opposite the club and Bell Hill. Philip Dalby and assistant Paul set an interesting short triangle course H opposite the Ferry and short upriver mark on the Middlesex bank and another slightly down on the Surrey bank giving a tantalising little beat, all to port. Just David in his Comet and me alone in the Enterprise for the morning race. As David said there were three different approaches to the windward mark and not one of them always worked.

A nice short race finishing as the rain started to fall.

In the afternoon the course was split with the Comets of George and David doing the one mentioned. The Enterprises, GP and Merlin doing a longer upriver course with a short beat at D Middlesex to D Surrey, once again tricky to judge. John and Sue were the only GP and Stuart/ Nicola the only Merlin. Ian and daughter Sophie and me honoured with Beachmaster extraordinaire, fresh from Greece - Ben. We had a very close race with changing places, calls of proper course and friendly rivalry. The arbiter was the windward mark as on the last leg when I hit it. Ian and Sophie sailed away to win. John and Stu won as well, as did David. A very wet day but dressed for it made it fun.

Time by Sarah and Claude. Really nice tea from Lizzie and Sarah Peacock.

Phill

Last updated 9:35pm on 20 October 2025