In days of old there always used to be alist of dates and cluvs for a 8 race Thames Series , starting at Ranalagh in Feb and finishing at Ranalagh in Nov visiting Cookham, UTSC, Minima, Thames, Tamesis,Hampton on the way. I cannot find this series posted on the MR website, perhaps the series in no longer run? There is a posting but it only shows The opening Ranalagh event ( also a Silver Tiller)and then a demay event which I believe is an entirely seperate series.Can ayone shed any light on it. ( not to be confused in any way with the DeMay series for the really old boats with cotton sails etc that has a seperate event schedule) I have raced in this event many times and it has always been a lovely circuit that does not require too much driving.

As far as I am aware it is still run and we, at Cookham, have our open meeting on 25th April this year. We also have a De May series on the 24th April along with an age handicap Guy Pearce Memorial on the 24th April.

I also wondered why these Open Meetings are not listed as it does help to support these opens when we do not have a Silver Tiller event.

Our De May event is listed, but we do have two other Merlin events that weekend.

Thanks for the post but surly these events should be listed???

Who is the co-ordinator/custodian of the Thames series , assuming there is one? It is he/she who should be feeding this information into the web calendar. If there isn't a Thames series representitive then perhaps appointment of one committed to the cause would help to promote the event.
R

It does look a bit quiet on this link! I have a volunteer who looks after this part of the website now. Hopefully he has this all in hand.

Ranelagh Sunday Feb 28th (ST)
Cookham Sunday Apr 25th
Minima Sunday ???
Upper Thames Sunday ???
Wembley Sunday Sept 19th
Tamesis Sunday Oct 10th (ST)
Hampton Sunday Oct 17th
Ranelagh Sunday Nov ??

The Upper Thames Open meeting is  2nd (Spade Oak Bowl)and 3rd October (Allen Challenge).The 3rd is the Thames Series event.

Chris

By the way, the deMay series is for any boat over 30years, which I think is pre no. 3155 or there abouts. This is long after the cotton sail era so all boats over 30 years are welcome. There is talk, however, of a series for the 'really old' boats ie with ribs, wooden masts and cotton sails which I, personally, look forward to but the deMay series is a much wider spectrum, so join in if you have a suitable boat.

the De May series (2009)was won I believe by a fully breathed on ( by Laurie) Passing Cloud, with a deck stepped full raking brand new wooden mast and brand new dacron sails and even carried a small spinnaker to get the maximum handicap advantage.
Arms Race
Not for me!!!!!!!

sour grapes i think from previous poster ... i think it is possibly old chestnut but i think the idea of a classic and vintage series within the De May is a good one...

De may is a very good series that seems to be run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and long it may live, hence all dates are posted and the sailors are keenly varnishing no doubt in anticipation.
But it must not to confused with the Thames Series  ( now in tenth year?)which provides a super mini circuit for London folk to sail on the upper and lower reaches of our river. Perhaps you will fare well in the De May with your Turner NSM2 carbon rig together with new set of kevlar sails. Watching with anticipation!!
There is definately a slot somewhere for older generation wide boats that are no longer competitive on the circuit, perhaps it is the De May that will fill the gap if it could be faily banded into say ribbed, narrow and wide boats or a certain age?
Once again it opens the discussion for what is vintage , classic, classic modern and very classic modern.

I think that the trend towards putting modern rigs on the older boats does cause allot of people to be put off racing in the Demay series, however I do think it is a good thing as it will prolong the life of the older boats. I have restored a couple myself but was a little dis heartend when I turned up to my first event only to find tat most of my competion had carbon and kevlar rigs and properly fettled boats.

I am not put off though. I have a plan, but it is going to take a few years work and some better finances, but my next one will be proper and fast!! 

I just need to find a deck stepped mast now and I can get started. I guess there must be some ali ones floating about now.

Ranelagh date for the final race is November 7th. 13.00 start.

Thames Series 2010 (just need Minima to update)...

Ranelagh Sunday Feb 28th (ST)
Cookham Sunday Apr 25th
Minima Sunday ???
Wembley Sunday Sept 19th
Upper Thames Sunday Oct 3rd
Tamesis Sunday Oct 10th (ST)
Hampton Sunday Oct 17th
Ranelagh Sunday Nov 7th (One race - 13.00)

dv has a carbon deck steppy for sale

Minima (Thames Series) is Sept 26. (I did think it is was on the list but will sort it). Mike Stephens is the Thames Series rep.
Newest boat for De May is 3224 (that too needs updating !)
Many older boats are well equipped as they are sailed in home-club long series and have to 'earn their keep' whilst competing against much more modern boats and are used week in, week out. Some of the older boats only appear for vintage regattas and De May series so a difference in basic philosophy really.

Ben Hollis is Mags assistant  - I will email the latest Thames series list to him.

Thames Series 2010

Ranelagh Sunday Feb 28th (ST)
Cookham Sunday Apr 25th
Wembley Sunday Sept 19th
Minima Sunday Sept 26th
Upper Thames Sunday Oct 3rd
Tamesis Sunday Oct 10th (ST)
Hampton Sunday Oct 17th
Ranelagh Sunday Nov 7th (One race - 13.00)

Looks like a busy Autumn beckons.

I saw Davids Mast on the list but I let my Proctor Carbon Mast go a while back as it was heavy and stiff got £300 for it.

To make my project viable I can't spend that kind of money. Need an ali one that someone has upgraded and is willing to let go cheaply. There must be one out there somewhere. I missed Alan Fullers that he put on e-bay a while back, I think it went for 99p!

Increasingly people are keeping a spare mast these days, and I think if you have an older boat you've upgraded there is a tendancy to keep the ali to sell with the boat.

There are at least two people at Midland SC that have spare ally masts and one at Blithfield. Drop me a line and i'll put you in touch.

Thanks for the Thames dates.........very useful, perhaps it should be re-named the Thames Autumn Series!
presume these will find their way onto the MR fixture list.?

Thanks Chris. I am in no hurry so will touch base with you when I see you next.

Jez, I may have a spare ali deck stepped mast going for very little. It is an old gold one for a tall rig , if I remember. I'm in somerset.
Chris Barlow

Thanks Chris, but I think I am going to go with a conventional rig so I can use the sails from my other boat and maybe swap the masts about when I want to. Thank you all same though.

no problem,
Chris

so who is co-ordinating the Thames Series?

I guess Mike Stephens as the Thames Rep

Yes, its Mike, but he's rather busy moving house I think at the moment.

Sorry folks just had list emailed to me sorry it has taken a while have updated the fixture list now hope is all ok .

any problems please do email me and let me know thanks alot.
ben hollis

Well done Ben. Is Wembley not part of the Thames Series too though?

Don't see why...

Wembley was added to the Thames series years ago as it is in the Thames region and they promote sailing in that area. We are all well aware it is not a river! But that doesnt matter for the pusposes of the series.

Please can everyone check that their club's open meeting appears correctly in this list?! Thanks.

Any opens that are not 'Thames' status this year should still appear in the main fixtures list though. 

Email me or Ben Hollis to make us aware of missing details, thanks.

great work....thames is alive and well....
should hampton not read 17th Oct? ( sat 16th is a demay event)

i honestly dont know it would be cool if someone could email me a up to date list so that i can update the list 
thanks again ben hollis

Note that Hampton is set up on the fixtures list as a 2 day event, since many people race both days. Click on it for more info.