Dear Everyone,

The Notice of Race for the Upper Thames Merlin Open has now been published. On Saturday 2nd, there will be two races for the Spade Oak Bowl with the first start being 14.00.As usual,we have an evening meal organised at the Club and competitors are very welcome. HOWEVER, please can you let us know in advance that you are coming for the supper as we need to make sure that everyone will be fed. I don't know (as yet)how much the meal will cost but Richard Pausey (01628 525824) will have more details.
I know that this clashes with the De May event at Banbury, but hopefully De May sailors will come and support us on the Sunday,when we host the Allen Challenge which is a Thames Series Event. First Start is 11am. 
Free camping will be available and of course the bar and galley will be open all weekend.

The Upper Thames Merlin fleet is having a bit of a hard time at present and we'd love to see plenty of visitors. Rest assured, we still know how to party! For those of you who came up to Bourne End Week, the surgery on the Berkshire bank has given us much better sailing.
If you can't make it and are off to the West Country, have a great time but please remind your club colleagues that we'd love to see them. 
Cheers, 
Chris

Hi,

We're looking forward to you all coming.  The Saturday evening meal is £10.00 for adults or £8.00 for cadets.

Camping is available for any brave enough in Sin City.....

Please let me know if you want to camp, or attend the evening meal and I'll reserve places.

Cheers,

Richard

Hi Chris looks like we have 3, maybe as many as 5 coming from Wembley - Sunday only though I think. cheers, Paul

At least a couple from Tammy, can you make the rain go away..........

One from Thames, now there's a surprise!

Yeah, the weather doesn't look too great, but at least it'll blow the cobwebs away!

Thanks for letting us know and see you Sunday

Excellent! Support from Thames is always appreciated!

Tosh and son no1-Joe are looking forward to it

Tosh, delighted you will be racing. On the assumption you do not leave yourself behind at home can you bring the trophies from the last time we were there please?

He's already there Duncan... and guess what... the glasses are here! He and Joe won today :-)

10:1 he leaves them behind!

Well ): I should have put a tenner on that. Amanda, your Joe has some real talent! Hope to see you tomorrow.

Duncan

Thanks Duncan, I'll take them to Tamesis next Sunday if you're going.

If anybody left a cleat and Leatherman multi-tool by the flagpole, they're now safely behind the bar awaiting collection.

Great to see so many visitors - thanks for coming!

Try Tosh!!!

Results? Pretty please.

1. Pat Blake
2. Duncan Salmon
3. Tosh
4. Richard Harris

Well done Pat, 47 years after you first won it!

were there many boats?

20 odd boats.
Any one of 5 boats could win going into the last race which Pat won taking the meeting.
Conditions varied from a flat calm to a 25 knots of wind within a few minutes........

not me this time !

Hi,

The full results will be up on the UTSC website in the next few days.  I'll post again when they've gone up.  For those of you with facebook accounts, there's some 300 photo's taken over the weekend.  Just search for Upper Thames for some cracking pictures!

Just want to say thanks very much to all that came.  We had 16 on the start line on Sunday morning....a huge improvement on last year, and I hope it's restored the faith of those who thought it doesn't blow hard at UTSC.  Some great sailing and I feel very privileged to have been in the thick of it.  THANK YOU!

It was a good event, very well organised, good turnout, good courses, tricky sailing in very light winds and superb high speed planing all at the same time. Well done UTSC!

Great meeting and really challenging conditions, barely time to get the top off the Thermos in between gusts!

I can't find these photographs, please could you add a link. I understand there are some of Tosh and Joe. Thanks

You have to be a friend of Upper Thames to see them. I looked yesterday and could not find them so sent a request and they are now there today. There are a few of Tosh and Joe.

I've also got some cracking photo's of Tosh and Joe, and will be posting them on facebook......as soon as I can find out how to!

Done it! Just looking at them now they were so proud and the Spade Oak Bowl is in pride of place in the sitting room.

Glad to hear it.  We all admired Tosh and Joe for pitching a tent and staying overnight in the wind and rain.  Couldn't ask for more support than that!

More photo's from Sunday gone up on Upper Thames facebook page!

Can only find a cadet facebook page - is there another one?

The pictures for both Saturday and Sunday can be found on the UTSC site under Gallery. Lots there for all to see.
Chris

There's an interesting photo of Richard and Harry sailing 'Passing Cloud' towards the camera. Because of zoom foreshortening she looks like a dumpy old fashioned National 12.