Here is a link to a few photos I took at the sunny Hampton open this afternoon (only the end of race 2 and race 3). I believe Rob & Alex won with Fran and Liam a very close second.

Also I'm looking to crew for someone at Upper Thames next weekend - any offers gratefully received!

Thanks, Brian

... and the link!

Indeed so, Rob Wilder and Alex Jackson won the last race with Fran Gifford and Liam Dempsey 2nd.  The breeze was vigorous and gusty, though actually a little less savage than for the Vintage Merlins on Saturday - club anenometer readings went up to a peak of 40kts on Sat, there were a couple of gusts over 30kts on Sun, I saw a pretty sustained 30kts for a while at the end of the 2nd race, but all from an ideal SW direction.  No wonder the jib track pulled out, so ending our day.  Sunshine, wind, a packed spectator gallery - river sailing doesn't get much better than that.

Thanks again to Hampton, who says river sailing is dull when you have days like that!! On one run when flying the kite alex had to get behind the hoop which made it a bit wild in the wild card!!

Anybody reading this know the names of Tosh's and Mark Ampleford's crews yesterday?  Also, Fran Gifford's home club?  Many thanks.

Looking at the weather on Sunday, have to say I would have preferred to have raced then, rather than the Saturday. Oh well, my crew Joe has fine tuned his capzise drill almost to an artform!

I have watched that video of start 3 b a couple of times, did Tosh go the wrong side of the O/D mark? It looks like it as his bow passes but then the view gets obscured. What really happened?

I'm hoping Fran decides to come sailing at Tamesis....

Well, with the Tamesis Travellers' Trophy we've got lined up to run from January to March 2007, I'm hoping she's not the only one.  Calling all those Merlin club sailors in the region who shut up shop in the deepest winter months, why not join us at Tammy for some hotly contested winter river racing.  Advert to follow in the autumn issue of the Merlin magazine.

I would assume that Frances was sailing under Aldeburgh YC unless she posts later this afternoon when back at her desk.  I am not aware of another club that she is a member of at the moment.

I thought older boats were quicker on the river, where were they all?

Antony
(part owner of 3627)

I can help with my home club - Aldeburgh YC.  The only one I'm currently a member of.....

Anyway - enjoyed yesterday immensely, thanks to all for the very warm welcome as ever at Hampton.

Somehow I can see Antony has posted in the same time I'm writing this must be some kind of sibling telepathy going on.....

Fran

My crew was Bruce Deppe. Great time. Thanks for lending me the boat Dr P! I hade a brilliant day.

Just read above - Was there an outer distance? Tosh was along way down the line but got a clean start. I was ofcourse OCS and needed to return.

The white mark. Take a look.

Yes - just had a look. I think I was shockingly over the line. Just as well I always started at the the other end...

Once you look at it frame at a time you can see Tosh did go the right side, but the perspective is very deceiving.

Yes, you were over just a bit :-)

Should he have rerounded the distance mark after hitting it?

Thanks for the replies.  Just need to know the name of Tosh's crew.

In answer to Antony's question, I am afraid that on the day the old boats (helms) were not quite good enough
John B

If he did hit it (but I don't think you can see that clearly) the penalty would be to sail clear and do a 360. (That would apply to anyone hitting the o/d after the 4 minute gun.) If he went the wrong side, then he has not started so would need to return and cross the line in the correct direction to start

One of the few exceptional days on the river where the new boats had an advantage.
Mainly the speed on the run, and on the beat wider so easier to get flat, and less impact if you take on water or capsize. I haven't seen the final results but some old boats faired very well.

The old boats can't compete in a blow. 

But if yer interested, I hear some of the Tamesis Vintage fleet will appear at Upper Thames, may give you a run for your money...!?

Tosh's crew's first name is Andrew don't know his surname he is sometimes known as "Andrew Flowerchild". Krakatoa (2018) and Restless (1222) came 4th and 5th respectively so the old boats were still up there.  The only problem with the old boats in that wind was trying to get them dry after a capsize and in John's case gear failure!
Thanks to everyone for coming to Hampton it made it a great weekend, Gina took some good photos we will try to send to Mags.

aha! finally i have photographic evidence that my crew doesnt like to hike properly :P. I think i am aching more today than i normally do after 5 hours out at sea.

just to put your minds at rest i did leave outer mark to port

Yes at least half your boat left the mark to port !!

and did not hit it 
and  my crews name is andrew maddison

Ow, my calves....

Are you a dairy farmer then Mags?! :)

...and my knees....and my back.....

My arms hurt, but i think that is more to do with winding open the lock at 1am on Sunday morning!! 

Cracking weekend, thanks Hampton :-)
See you all at Bourne End to top up my hangover!

There is a short report on the Tamesis website.

ps I'm still available for Saturday and Sunday at Upper Thames!

Brian,
you take some cracking photos. Can you e-mail me a high defn one of us (3671)on the beat along side Passing Cloud that you have on the Tammy site.
Thanks, Alan

Thanks, I'll e-mail it to you tonight - that was my best photo of the week and you managed to get in it with sunglasses on :-)

There are a couple more of you in the bag.

Brian, You took a couple of really nice pics of us too. The first couple on your gallery. Could you e-mail me some hi-def ones too?
Thanks