Centenary Cup at Tamesis Club
by John Dunkley 10 Jun 2014 14:19 BST
8 June 2014
The Tamesis Centenary Cup 2014 was won by David Baker and Jim Green © John Dunkley
David Baker and Jim Green sailed Cobblers, Albacore 6813, to a closely
challenged victory in the annual two-race class handicap pursuit for
the Centenary Cup at Tamesis Club, Teddington, on Sunday 8 June. Both
races were sailed in warm sunshine and a gentle south westerly wind
that that gave some good racing. Thirty Tamesis members competed in
the event, with 18 boats coming to the line in the morning race, which
was won by Jon and Augusta Redding in Pikey, Merlin Rocket 3520.
Unfortunately, they were unable to sail in the afternoon, and so did
not qualify.
Cobblers had been fourth with Henry Defries, sailing Phew, Laser
178209, third in the morning race. However, Henry was also unable to
sail in the afternoon. Donald Forbes in Greylag, Laser 18044, had two
good results to gain third place overall. He beat the National 18,
Antedote, sailed by Charles Fox and Chris Pollard, into fourth
position by a tie break. Second place overall went to Peter and
Richard Mason in Bambusa, Merlin Rocket 847, which was second in the
afternoon and sufficiently well placed in the morning to ensure a top
result.
It was pleasing to see four different classes in the top four
positions, indicating that the handicaps worked well overall.
Race Officer Ian Burnett set a challenging course that took
competitors on a three round circuit between two buoys set well
upstream of Steven's Eyot, with the Canbury mark not far short of
Hampton Wick Railway Bridge. This was followed by a two round circuit
between Albany and a Lensbury mark set a third of the way down
Trowlock Island.
The Cup, given to the Club in 1985, its centenary year, by the late
Louis Derham, Tamesis Commodore from 1985 to 1988, was presented to
the winners by his son, Simon, who is himself a former winner of the
Cup.
Top 4 results:
1 Cobblers (Albacore, 6813) David Baker & Jim Green
2 Bambusa (Merlin, 847) Peter & Richard Mason
3 Greylag (Laser, 188044) Donald Forbes
4 Antedote (National 18, 348) Charles Fox & Chris Pollard