Trent Valley Vintage & Midland Area Open Meeting Sunday September
2010
The day dawned with perfect sailing conditions – sun in the sky, a
few fluffy clouds and a decent breeze from the west giving a beat
through the doldrums upstream of the Clubhouse.
The first race was postponed to await the state arrival of Mike & Ann
Nokes to see the re-launch of N2359 Shotgun. Mike had persuaded Paul
Turner to remove said boat from his front garden and after two years of
restoration, she was now ready to hit the water for the first time in
over thirty years. Graham Camm had expected to be sailing Mr Jones from
the Turner Collection but a minor problem with mast repairs, after Angus
Beyts exploits at the Burton, meant that he and Andrea Murphy had the
“pleasure” of being there to sail Shotgun instead. The launching went
without a hitch and after numerous photo calls Race Officer Rob Sloane
got the main proceedings underway.
The entry was down on the two previous years with a number of regulars
missing this year. With 6 vintage and only three fast boats, it was a
bit of a toss up where to put Tom White in his 4 plank China Doll – to
make up numbers, and after his victory at Olton Mere the day before, he
was sent to play with the “big boys”. Race Officer Rob laid the start
line up from the Clubhouse, across the river at the mouth of the Erewash
Canal to give a clean beat start and wider river section.
Race 1 Open Fleet – Ally Briton got an excellent start and the four fast
boats engaged in a tacking duel as they headed out of sight up river.
Tom broke free and sailed away from the others to establish a big lead
to the finish. John Nixon realised that he had sailed the course
backwards and retired.
Race 1 Vintage – there was a kerfuffle at the port end of the line with
much shouting, leaving both Dave Peacock and Graham Camm over at the
start. Normal service was soon resumed with Graham leading Howard
Chadders out of the doldrums. Graham ploughed on in Shotgun (totally
untested and un-tuned!) and kept his lead to the finish.
Rob had set an interesting course with two extra buoys to provide two
gybes just upstream form the clubhouse – entertainment for the
spectators!
Brian Kitching (who is not a fan of river sailing at the best of times)
decided to undertake a sail-washing manoeuvre in front of the clubhouse,
breaking his tiller extension in the process.
Race 2 (after lunch) Open Fleet – the wind had increased to a fresh
breeze, and Tom White made a clean start and headed off into the far
distance leaving the three others to battle it out. Tom did some pretty
hairy gybes on the last lap but managed to stay up right to finish.
Race 2 Vintage – Again the port end of the line attracted the fleet like
moths to a light – but Brian Herring seeing the error of their ways,
went to the other end and got a flying start crossing in front of the
whole fleet on a splendid lift, but again Graham carved his way through
followed by Dave and Chadders who managed to get past Dave to gain
another second place. Graham pushed on and caught all but two of the
fast boats.
Capt Carbon again found his sails to be too dry and retired, ending a
miserable day for him and local crew Sam Lawman, (but not as miserable
as it had been for Ken Goddard whose crew failed to arrive, leaving him
on the bank to spectate).
Both fleets (especially the crews) found the second race to be quite
testing with serious gusts and major wind shifts. With bruises and the
wind increasing by the minute Rob laid a much shorter course. Brian
Herring, realising that discretion and all that, stayed on the bank, and
Martin Clarke who had had a steady day but on discovering that the side
deck on his beautifully restored Starfish had split, wisely packed his
boat away.
Race 3 Open Fleet – Tom arrived late at the start line because of
mainsheet failure, and two local helms (who should have known better)
got themselves in a mess on the bank a few 100 yards later. John (the
Commodore) Richardson went aground and Ally decided to sail between him
and the bank! John Nixon in clear air pulled out a decent lead, John
Richardson retired injured and Tom White slowly overhauled Ally, and
then went off in pursuit of John Nixon (who inevitably succumbed to
young Tom’s serious boat speed and surrendered first place to him). Tom
& Maria therefore accomplished a clean sweep of three firsts, and Ally
(this time with his Mum crewing) went a lot faster than in May!
Race 3 Vintage – two of the three remaining old boats were over the line
- Dave and Graham had to turn back leaving Chadders to lead until Graham
caught him to win but by a comparatively small margin this time.
Overall Results
Open
1 - N2765 Le Shed – Tom White & Maria Gidley, Olton Mere
2 – N3514 Elise – John Nixon & Sue Howe, Carsington
3 – N3192 Alley Cat – Ally Briton & Ann Briton (Mum), Trent Valley
4 – N3157 Perfect Kiss – John Richardson & Lucy Richardson (Daughter),
Trent Valley
Vintage
1 – N2359 Shotgun – Graham Camm & Andrea Murphy, Burghfield/Attenborough
2 - N2266 Triarda – Howard Chadwick & Helen Nicholson, Yeadon
3 – N2487 Dolly Daydream – Dave Peacock & Tricia Wood, Trent Valley
4 – N1673 Let’s Go – Brian Herring & Roz Stevenson, Winsford Flash
5 – N2306 Sticky Fingers – Martin Clarke & Matt Clarke (Son), Hykeham
6 – N1657 Just Lucky – Brian Kitching & Sam Lawman, Frampton on
Severn/Trent Valley
7 – N2300 Duodecimal – Ken Goddard, Trent Valley
At the prize-giving Tom & Maria were also presented with the Trophy for
their victory at Redesmere and the Midland Area Trophies having been
victorious in both the Admirals Cup and Open Classes – Tom got the
Midland Plate but we still need to find the Midland Mug (AC trophy)!
And thanks to Race Officer Rob Sloane, rescue crew “Speedy” Pete Browne,
Roger “Ancient” Briton, Phil Lee and shore party Christine Marshall,
Paul Turner and James Browne.
Only three Turner Collection boats were out this time -must get the rest
fixed!
