Thames A Rater Brangaza Bowl and Yates Cup at Tamesis Cup
by John Dunkley 21 Sep 2009 22:09 BST
19-20 September 2009
The Thames A Rater Brangaza Bowl and Yates Cup are held at Tamesis © John Dunkley
Martin Hunter wins Brangaza Bowl and Yates Cup
Martin Hunter of Upper Thames SC won both the Braganza Bowl and the Yates Cup at the annual open meeting for Thames A Raters at Tamesis Club, Teddington, on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. Crewed by Jeremy Kearns and Roger Stafford in Spindrift (14), he took five firsts in the first five races and did not start in the sixth and final race on Sunday afternoon. It was a week-end of light and flukey winds in which the seven competing boats had to struggle to keep up with the leaders. Fortunately, there was more strength in Sunday's north easterly breeze than there had been on the Saturday. Race Officer John Harris set a lengthy course that took the competitors on a beat down river to Lensbury and a gybing broad reach and run upstream to Canbury.
Being overtaken by these majestic boats as their high mainsails catch the wind over the treetops was described by a Merlin helmsman (sailing on the Sunday) as rather like being overtaken by the nautical equivalent of a stealth bomber "that creeps silently up behind you without showing on your radar".
On Saturday, Race Officer Brian Southcott set a complicated three dogleg course which Martin Hunter clearly found to his liking but after a challenging first race which took the seven starters well downstream to Lensbury the course was halved in length. Unpredictable variations in wind direction from west to east and passing power boats left little room for mistakes and those crews who were able to tack and gybe with alacrity emerged as early leaders. Frustrated by the lack of wind in the first three races, several crews opted out of the fourth race which was a mistake as the breeze, although still gentle, was the best of the day and the four starters enjoyed some good racing.
Paul Browning, crewed by Justin Dunn, Tod Wells and Andrew Christie, of Thames SC was second overall in Osprey (16).
The prizes were presented by Margaret Stokes.
Overall Results:
Braganza Bowl
1 Spindrift (14) Martin Hunter, Jeremy Kearns, Roger Stafford, 5 points
2 Osprey (16) Paul Browning, Justin Dunn, Andrew Christie, 10 points
3 Kingfisher (1) Martin Collen, Roland Gadsby, Clive Hughes, 15 points
Yates Cup
1 Spindrift (14) Martin Hunter, Jeremy Kearns, Roger Stafford
2 Osprey (16) Paul Browning, Tod Wells, Andrew Christie
3 Kingfisher (1) Martin Collen, Roland Gadsby, Clive Hughes