Serpentine Cup two-boat team racing at Tamesis Club
by Berry Ritchie 30 Mar 2006 07:57 BST
25 March 2006
The Thames and Tamesis teams line up for their start during the Serpentine Cup inter-club team race at Tamesis © John Dunkley
Blue skies and a balmy south-westerly greeted visitors to Tamesis Club for the Serpentine Cup on Saturday 25 March, although the weather turned cloudy and colder later. Six teams competed for the Thames club's annual two-boat team trophy, sailed in Enterprises, and the fresh breeze combined with a stronger than expected stream to make Brian Southcott's tricky figure of eight course ideal for the cut-throat, last-boat-loses, round-robin event. Predatory tactics constantly undermined the most convincing leads, but on-the-water judges John Bell and Dave Law dealt summary justice to accidental and intentional offenders alike, forcing culprits to round the next mark last.
At the end of the fifteen race series, Tamesis, Thames SC and London Pirates had four wins apiece. However, a protest against a Thames helmsman for not wearing a lifejacket was upheld, leaving the Tamesis team of Andrew Harris, crewed by Bryn Evans, and Oliver Houseman, crewed by John Adams, with five wins. Second with four wins were London Pirates, represented by Chris Edwards with Chris Barrett, and Nick Barrett with Sarah Edwards. The event was organised for the eleventh year by Sue Harris.