After the summer’s windy weather by the seaside, it was nice to get back
to the Thames on a sultry, thundery afternoon with everyone looking for
kedges to complete their gear selection for the race for the 1937 Silver
National trophy. More had promised to be there but six were
undeterred by the morning’s torrential downpour and were given special
dispensation for a Le Mans-type start, given the force 0 gusting 1 winds
and the 4 knot spring tide. The exception was Chris Edwards and
David Knight who launched early and kedged just above the line.
They therefore led away towards Hammersmith with the course just a
“sprint” to the upstream mark and a beat back. Mike Day and Anne
Murch led round but were overtaken on the beat up the Surrey bank by
Fran Gifford and Sophie Mackley. Chris and David were the first to
cross towards the football ground, followed by Mike and Anne. Fran
and Sophie followed but by then had lost their lead.
However, Dave Wilkins and Ellie Assender first kedged, then stayed on
the Surrey Bank for another ten minutes before finding more wind to
cross the tide. They then led as the whole fleet tacked out and
back under the football ground in search of some breeze. Painfully
slowly, as the tide gradually lost its bite, Dave and Ellie edged into
the trees and the last stretch to the line, while Fran and Sophie, Mike
and Anne, and Chris and David exchanged places 50 metres behind.
With less than 100 metres to go, Mike and Anne covered Fran and Sophie
as they both went out into the middle of the river in search of wind.
While Fran and Sophie stopped, Mike and Anne found a patch of wind and
started making progress. Meanwhile, inshore, Dave and Ellie had
run out of wind and were stationary as Mike and Anne crept through to
win.
Overall results
1. N3496 Mike Day and Anne Murch
2. N3481 Dave Wilkins and Ellie Assender
3. N3471 Chris Edwards and David Knight
