Tamesis Club and ITCA SE Topper Open

Published 01:00 on 23 Oct 2023

Tamesis Club and ITCA SE Topper Open, Saturday 21st October 2023 for the Murray Vines Cup

Report by Carolyne Vines

Photos by Chris Wade and Simon Corkin

Storm Babet was doing its thing on the northeast coast, and decided to dowse the southern half of the country with a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of rain. The Toppers are a feisty crowd however, and Tamesis was delighted with the record turnout of 25 boats. Earlier in the week the forecast looked spicy with gusts up to 30mph which would have given all the competitors something to think about.

Instead, the sailors were greeted with downpours from above and an ever increasing current heading straight toward Teddington Weir. That also gave them plenty to think about.

Visitors and members alike started to arrive and were welcomed with a bacon roll. The locals were allocated their Topper, the all important briefing covered all the necessary points. The aim was for the leaders to finish after 30 minutes, but overall time limit was 45 minutes.

OOD Matthew Dalton set a short course in front of the clubhouse, and delayed the start by an hour to 12 noon in the hope that the wind would have got up enough for the boats to make headway. A number launched and were able to stem the stream, so the decision was made to go ahead, but on an even shorter course with both buoys being moved closer to each other.

The start was clean with only the more experienced able to even get anywhere near the start line. Most used the Surrey bank, getting as close in as possible to avoid being swept back by the stream. One or two elected to use the trees as an anchor, but got firmly stuck for their efforts. Sometimes the puffs favoured those further out in the stream Erica Bishop, flying the flag for the adults, took advantage of several which enabled her to get into the lead, only to be pushed back downstream to where she started once the 'gusts' stopped. We reckon she must have sailed further than any of the others.

Watching was agony, sailing even more agonising but most prevailed, the wiser retiring while they had some sanity. It was obvious that no one would make the first mark so it was brought 30 metres further downstream. Even then it was nigh on impossible for even the craftiest sailor to reach it. In the end Erica Bishop succeeded in rounding the mark. The shorten course signal was sounded and she finished a couple of minutes later. Three others were able to reach the mark and were also finished on the way down. Many more retired, then all were retired at 1245 when the time limit expired. Most accepted the welcome offer of a tow.

Everyone repaired to the clubhouse for a sandwich lunch and something to drink. The consensus was to wait until 2pm to decide whether to hold another race or abandon for the day. The rain fell again, the wind piped up a tiny bit then disappeared again. Alternative sports of ping pong and mud rugby on the lawn were enjoyed. Unfortunately as 2pm approached it was clear that conditions were unlikely to improve and the remainder of the event abandoned with one race sailed.

Once the boats were packed away all enjoyed the cake and tea. Commodore Marcus Chavasse presented the prizes to all the finishers. Mementos of a glass tumbler given to the most travelled visitors from Shoreham and Newhaven. Sweeties given to all competitors. Lots of smiles all round. OOD Matthew Dalton did the announcing. Oscar, the winner of the Murray Vines Cup, thanked everyone very nicely. Mark Dence, the ITCA Southeast area rep, also added his thanks.

Thanks go to many including Mark Dence, Griff Tanner, Tamesis Topper Captain and all the Tamesis Topper parents for organizing the event, the race crew OOD Matthew Dalton, Carolyne Vines, Mal Warner, Mark Gardner, other patrol boat crew Paul Bloomfield and other friends from Minima YC who helped out with towing the boats back. Photos by Chris Wade. Josie, Dylan and Alfie kept us fed and watered.

Competitors came from Island Barn Reservoir, Desborough Minima, Wimbledon Park, Shoreham, Newhaven and Seaford, WPSC and Queen Mary, not forgetting Tamesis.

Results:
ITCA Southeast
1st Oscar Ley Desborough and Island Barn SC
2nd Sam Clancy Desborough SC
3rd Sam Dence Island Barn SC
1st over the finish line Erica Bishop

Last updated 18:38 on 25 April 2024