A windy return to the water…

By M. Hawkes – 19/03/2022

The range of movement in the trees outside my kitchen window on Saturday morning told me that the forecast medium wind strength was well, wrong. Three words spring to mind when I start writing, where were you? Full sun, high tide, no moored obstructions combined to make a near perfect day for a return to river racing.

Undeterred and keen to get going, five lasers, including two youngsters made their way to a starting area on the opposite bank to F for a port handed triangular course with Methersgate as the turning mark. It appeared that a submarine had gone the wrong way and was dragging Boadicea, anchor and all, downriver although, perhaps more plausibly, the wind and tide were just that strong.

After a very relaxed arrival at the line, Jos & Alfie put in a heroic first lap before deciding that 30 knot gusts were not for them, yet, and headed home. I’m sure I speak for the rest of the fleet in warmly welcoming them to the fold and look forward to seeing them out and progressing up the pecking order. Mark Hodge, taking a break from those nasty boats with a pointy nose, wisely set off with a radial rig and sailed a very consistent set of races, leaving Martin H and Matt Leigh to scrap over second and third place.

The race was run to time and this helm can confirm that an hour at that wind strength feels like at least three. Thinking the race had finished and then to be told another lap was involved was not music to my ears. It was a day on the water when the wind was so cunning, you could stick a tail on it and call it a weasel and of course this allowed for plenty of opportunities for close hull inspection. A return with a bang and big thanks to the rescue crews and RO’s. It’s great to be back, see you next week.