Trent Valley Sailing Club: Vintage and 4-plank event

Expanded to Admirals Cup boats. . . Saturday 20th September 2008

Report by Christine Marshall TVSC (from the front of the boat!)

Many thanks to the 16 boats who turned up; it was so lovely to see them all on the water, in an environment so made for them all.  Okay, there wasn’t much wind, but it wasn’t raining!!!

With such a line up for the start there were 2 flights, with the 4-plank and AC boats going first.  Our Race Officer was kind and set a short triangular course for the first race avoiding the dreaded “doldrums” – if you have ever sailed at TVSC you will know what I refer to.

Also it was a Saturday, known to be tricky with the River Trent being awash with narrowboats and cruisers all out on the first day of their week’s hire!  Many thanks to Roger Britton for his loud and clear guidance to these novices.  After a short delay waiting for the sea-breeze, we started our first race.  All I can say is we had a great start!

Ali Britton in his mother’s boat got to the front and stayed there in the 4-plank and AC flight.  The rest of us sailed admirably and Howard Chadwick took three laps to get past us to win the vintage race. Brian Kitching had spent too much time gossiping with his crew at the briefing and sailed in the wrong fleet!
The second race went much the same way, but with much knitting of brows by the helms to try to get the best out of the miniscule wind.  Although by now all were keen to get back as lunch was promised.  Let’s face it, this is TVSC and the races are timed to fit with meal times.

 

After a fab lunch, we all went out again.  Apparently there was a significant body of opinion from the fleet to see the whole of our sailing area and  Keith Marshall the Race Officer tried to fulfil that yearning by extending the top mark to way past the “doldrums”.  Initially there was sufficient wind, but as the second flight caught up with the first, there was much concerned conversation on the water that this might not have been a bright idea.  No-one owned up to wanting to see the whole of the TVSC course!  Vince Phillips played it cool with his extreme light-weight crew and somehow chose to sail his race with the first flight.  The rest of us from the second flight aimed for the Scout hut, again,.... and.. again... and .... again.  Yes, it really took 4 goes to work our way past.  Howard Chadwick got there first, then went backwards a bit, came up the inside on the bank, got to the front ... and then went backwards again....  Several of us did the same thing, far too many times to call it fun.  The community song singing did not help!  There was much laughing and ribaldry; it’s a good job we are such a friendly bunch in the Vintage fleet!

But who does have right of way when going backwards - we had plenty of time to debate the whole issue.

Anyway, to cut a very long story short, some us eventually found the rearranged top mark, went round it and were very grateful for the shortened course flag.
But as always with TVSC the story is more than that.

Quotes of the day:-

“This is why I don’t sail here anymore”

“STARBOARD, you're going backwards and I’m going forwards, does that count, are we still starboard?”

“Paul’s got his centreboard stuck in the mud to stop him going backwards” (IT WAS A LIE!)

 

Again, many thanks for all who turned up, it was a really great day.  Next year I will try to book some wind, but looking on the bright side – the Trent was 3 feet higher a week ago and running an awful lot faster!

Overall results

 

		Vintage Racing
1st	2531	Vince & Alexander Phillips	Yorkshire Ouse	Whisper 7
2nd	2266	Howard Chadwick & Helen Nicholson		A Starfish
3rd	2487	Paul Turner & Christine Marshall	Trent Valley	China Doll
4th	1657	Brian Kitching & Andrea Murphy	Frampton on Severn	Jack Holt Chimp
5th	2468	Brian Herring & Roz	Winsford Flash & Redesmere	China Doll
6th	2255	Tim Gatti & Shirley Dooley	Yeadon	Proctor Mk 12
7th	2020	Ken Goddard & Ann Britton	Trent Valley	The Starfish
8th	2079	Floyd Cherry & Roy Smith	North Lincolnshire SC	Smuggler
		4 Plank & Admirals Cup
1st 4plank	2957	John & Mark Sears	Notts County	Pipedream
2nd 1st AC	3192	Alley Britton* & Jos Richardson	Trent Valley	Tigress
3rd	3107	Ian & Louis Norman	Trent Valley	Tigress
4th	3157	Ben* & Elgashia Richardson	Trent Valley	Microclipper
5th	3102	Dave & Liam Borrett	Nottingham	Rough Diamond
6th	2760	Tony Elgar & Harry Oaten	Weymouth	Cheshire Cat
7th	3244	Chris & Ben Palmer	Redesmere	Crusader
8th	3230	John Nixon & Sue Howe	Carsington	Crusader

 

 

The Boat Index Prize (the highest age score for helm + crew+ boat) went to Brian Herring & Roz with Ken Goddard & Ann Briton a close second; it was the boat and helm age that really counted!

Notes:

1. Reminder: The Midlands Area Dinner is at TVSC on Saturday 15th November 2008 – please book with Paul Turner 07710 324 800
 
2. Our thanks to the * = “Stars” of the TVSC Laser fleet who supported us.
 
3. TVSC Class racing is on Sunday 19th October (starts 2.00 3.00 & 5.00) and visitors are welcome.
 
PS It was great to welcome former TVSC members Mike & Ann Nokes previously of N2020 & N2359), and Barry Judge (N1733) plus Phil Reader and his wife (N2956) who came along, not to sail, but to enjoy the company and lunch