Tamesis Club Thursday Evening Series
by John Adams 16 Sep 09:22 BST
May - August 2026
Tom Bull battling David Baker and Carolyne Vines during Tamesis Club's Thursday evening series © Chris Wade /
www.instagram.com/chriswaderowingphotography
Thursday evening of 27th August 2026 saw the last of Tamesis Club's Thursday evening races. The club runs two handicap trophies every Thursday evening through May and June, for the Saga Trophy, and July and August for the GW Smith Trophy.
The series are very popular not only with regular club sailors, but also those who are learning the art and a multitude of juniors eager to try out their newly learned skills. The races provide a welcome break during the working week and a prelude for the weekend to come. Tasty suppers cooked by our in-house chef round off the evenings well and provide a strong social component to the event.
The handicap formula allows a variety of boats to compete including the selection of the club's training craft, mainly sailed by junior helms.
For the May June races, a total of 39 entrants competed, with 12 of those being juniors. The number of entrants varied from week to week depending on weather and competing attractions with a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 3 on a particularly quiet evening.
While racing was close, the clear winner of the Saga Trophy was Andrew Harris in a Merlin Rocket, crewed by Jameson Buchanon and Nim Harris with David Baker and Carolyne Vines second in another Merlin Rocket and Matthew Peregrine-Jones third in an ILCA7.
The leading junior helm was Louis Atherton in an ILCA6 in 10th place.
For the GW Smith Trophy running during July and August there was a slightly higher take up of 47 entrants, 15 of which were Juniors. Again, numbers varied for each evening, with a minimum of 5 and a whopping 24 boats for the final race.
This was a crucial race with two entrants capable of winning the Trophy, Andrew Harris in his Merlin Rocket and our RYA Training manager, Tom Bull in an ILCA7. A win for either would seal the trophy. The boats they sail provide an interesting comparison between two different design concepts.
Andrew's Merlin Rocket was designed by Jack Holt from the Ranelagh Sailing Club at Putney on the Thames a few miles from Tamesis, and built around 1955 in wood. Within certain key measurements, the Merlin Rocket of the dinghy can vary to adapt to suit the needs of the helm and crew and the conditions they normally sail in, whether constricted inland waters or the expanse of the sea and larger reservoirs.
The ILCA, or Laser as it was originally called, was designed in 1970 as a strict one design class built in glass fibre so that all boats and their sails are equal and race performance is meant to be a measure of the helm's skill and not of the design of their hull and sails.
With 24 boats on the line, and competitive spirits high, there was chaos on the start line, and the race officer had to call for a general recall and broke out the black flag, a very rare occurrence at Tamesis. Second time around, sense prevailed and the 24 contestants were on their way. Andrew Harris, crewed by Jameson Buchanon, was quickly away and rounded the first mark in the lead, with his opponent Tom Bull further back and hindered by surrounding boats.
Andrew extended his lead on the run downstream but was seen to potentially scupper his chances of winning the race and the Trophy by rounding the mark in the wrong direction. Fortunately, he realised his error, made amends and continued to stretch out his lead. Tom however was still surrounded by other craft and was unable to reduce the gap to Andrew sufficiently to save his time on handicap. In the end Andrew Harris and Jameson in their 71year old Merlin Rocket were the race and Trophy winners, followed by Joe McLaughlin and his son Max in another Merlin Rocket with Tom Bull in his ILCA7 in 3rd.
As a result, Andrew and Jameson won the GW Smith Trophy, but only by half a point from Tom Bull in his ILCA7 and with David Baker and Carolyne Vines third in a Merlin Rocket.
Saga Trophy Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | PY | 07/05/2026 | 14/05/2026 | 21/05/2026 | 28/05/2026 | 04/06/2026 | 11/06/2026 | 18/06/2026 | 25/06/2026 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Crescendo | MERLIN ROCKET | 607 | Andrew Harris | Jameson Buchanon
Nim Harris | 980 | 1 | (DNC) | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | (DNC) | 1 | (DNC) | 4 |
| 2 | Chimp | MERLIN ROCKET | 1357 | David Baker | Carolyne Vines | 980 | 2 | 1 | (OCS) | 2 | (DNC) | (DNC) | ‑4 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | INXS‑IVE | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 122399 | Matthew Peregine Jones | | 1103 | ‑3 | 3 | 2 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 1 | 2 | (DNC) | 8 |
| 4 | Endless | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 211865 | Ilker Sener | | 1103 | (DNC) | 2 | 3 | 5 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 4 | 14 |
| 5 | Genevieve | N18 | 266 | Charles Fox | Rob Blakebrough
Tim Ginn | 984 | 7 | 4 | ‑9 | ‑12 | (DNC) | 2 | ‑9 | 6 | 19 |
| 6 | RTM | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 197213 | Marcus Chavasse | | 1103 | 5 | (DNC) | 5 | 7 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | 22 |
| 7 | Shoestring | MERLIN ROCKET | 1136 | Peter Johnson | Paul Jamieson | 980 | (DNC) | 5 | 6 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 3 | 11 | 25 |
| 8 | Zephyr | N18 | 374 | Alison Cooper | K Buchanon
| 957 | (DNC) | (DNC) | ‑10 | 10 | 4 | (DNC) | 7 | 8 | 29 |
| 9 | Saltarello | MERLIN ROCKET | 1602 | John Adams | Zoe Adams | 980 | 9 | (DNC) | 8 | ‑11 | 6 | (DNC) | 6 | ‑13 | 29 |
| 10 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Junior | Louis Atherton | | 1103 | 6 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 8 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 8 | 9 | 31 |
| 11 | Samanda | MERLIN‑ROCKET | 596 | Tim Medcalf | Ed Medcalf
Lily Faichney | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 4 | 4 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 3 | 50 |
| 12 | Steal | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 120555 | Jim Hamilton | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | 10 | 10 | 73 |
| 13 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 171597 | Edwin Simonds | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | DNC | 5 | DNC | 88 |
| 14 | Magician | MERLIN‑ROCKET | 522 | Tim Barr | Alastair Banks | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | OCS | 3 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 95 |
| 15 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | Junior | Jameson Buchanon | | 1156 | (DNC) | 6 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 12 | 96 |
| 16 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Club | Alexey Anaskiy | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 16 | 3 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 97 |
| 17 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 203576 | Tom Bull | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | OCS | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 1 | 99 |
| 18 | AVXS | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 192517 | John Kemp | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | RET | 7 | 101 |
| 19 | Sportedd | Topper | Junior | Arthur Peregine‑Jones | | 1369 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 11 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 14 | 103 |
| 20 | Frogmarch | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 195288 | Peter Impey | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 7 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | RET | 104 |
| 21 | 15 | Topper | Junior | Kit Martin | | 1369 | 10 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | RET | DNC | 104 |
| 22 | Piky II | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 188044 | Jon Redding | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 1 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 118 |
| 23 | Antedote | N18 | 348 | Peter Impey | Jon Bowden | 957 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 3 | DNC | DNC | 120 |
| 24 | | SOLO | 5089 | Tim Medcalf | | 1139 | 4 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 121 |
| 25 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 167587 | Matty Key | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 6 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 123 |
| 26 | Snow Goose | N18 | 364 | Mike Adams | Jennifer Adams | 957 | 8 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 125 |
| 27 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Junior | Lyra Wade | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 9 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 126 |
| 28 | Club | Topper | Junior | Denis Nevill | | 1369 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 11 | DNC | 128 |
| 29 | | Topper | Junior | Ottie and Sorrel | | 1369 | DNF | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 129 |
| 30 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | Junior | Lily Faichney | | 1156 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 12 | DNC | 129 |
| 31 | Lady Anne | MERLIN‑ROCKET | 1978 | Jemma Harwood | Nicola Scadden | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 13 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 130 |
| 32 | Club | Topper | Junior | Henry Joseph | | 1369 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 15 | 132 |
| 33 | Club | Topper | Junior | Toby Swinson‑Howell | | 1369 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 15 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 132 |
| 34 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | 161608 | Dominic Moxon‑Tretsch | | 1156 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | RET | DNC | 133 |
| 35 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | Junior | Chris Bowles | | 1156 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 16 | 133 |
| 36 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Club | Not signed in | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 17 | 134 |
| 37 | | 2000 | Junior | Ed Medcalf | Bethan Roberts | 1122 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 17 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 134 |
| 38 | Thats quite enough | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 85288 | Lindsey Martin | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | RET | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 137 |
GW Smith Trophy Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | PY | 02/07/2026 | 09/07/2026 | 16/07/2026 | 23/07/2026 | 30/07/2026 | 06/08/2026 | 13/08/2026 | 20/08/2026 | 27/08/2026 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Crescendo | MERLIN ROCKET | 607 | Andrew Harris | Jameson Buchanon
| 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 2.5 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 |
| 2 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 203576 | Tom Bull | | 1103 | 1 | (DNC) | ‑2 | (DNC) | 1 | ‑2 | 2 | 2 | ‑3 | 6 |
| 3 | Chimp | MERLIN ROCKET | 1357 | David Baker | Carolyne Vines | 980 | ‑7 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 1 | ‑5 | 1 | 4 | ‑6 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | INXS‑IVE | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 122399 | Matthew Peregrine Jones | | 1103 | (RET) | (DNC) | 1 | (DNC) | 4 | 4 | (DNC) | 3 | ‑6 | 12 |
| 5 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 167587 | Matty Key | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 3 | (DNC) | ‑6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ‑7 | 13 |
| 6 | Saltarello | MERLIN ROCKET | 1602 | John Adams | Zoe Adams | 980 | ‑8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ‑7 | (DNC) | ‑8 | 7 | ‑10 | 18 |
| 7 | Genevieve | N18 Penultimate
Lightened | 266 | Charles Fox | Rob Blakebrough
Tim Ginn | 984 | ‑12 | 1 | 6 | 2.5 | ‑9 | 9 | ‑10 | (DNC) | ‑21 | 18.5 |
| 8 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Junior | Lyra Wade | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | (DNC) | 3 | 6 | 6 | (DNC) | ‑12 | 20 |
| 9 | War Horse | MERLIN ROCKET | 1939 | Peter Impey | Jameson Buchanon
Toby Swinson‑Howell | 980 | (DNC) | 4 | ‑10 | 6 | (DNC) | 7 | ‑9 | 9 | ‑14 | 26 |
| 10 | RTM | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 197213 | Marcus Chavasse | | 1103 | 3 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | (DNC) | 5 | 17 | 30 |
| 11 | Zephyr | N18 Ultimate | 374 | Alison Cooper | K Buchanon
| 957 | ‑13 | (DNC) | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | ‑13 | (DNC) | ‑15 | 38 |
| 12 | Endless | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 211865 | Ilker Sener | | 1103 | 2 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | DNC | 4 | 58 |
| 13 | Steal | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 120555 | Jim Hamilton | | 1103 | 17 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 13 | 8 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 22 | 60 |
| 14 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | 161608 | Dominic Moxon‑Tretsch | | 1156 | 18 | (DNC) | 12 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 15 | (DNC) | 20 | 65 |
| 15 | Shoestring | MERLIN ROCKET | 1136 | Peter Johnson | Paul Jamieson | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 7 | 7 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 16 | 77 |
| 16 | Club | Topper | Junior | Denis Nevill | | 1369 | 11 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 12 | (DNC) | DNC | 8 | 78 |
| 17 | Tosca | MERLIN ROCKET | 1230 | Martin Thomas
Hayley Connell | Alison Cooper
Hayley Connell | 980 | (DNC) | 5 | 11 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 17 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 80 |
| 18 | Club | Topper | Junior | Mark G | | 1369 | 9 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 11 | (DNC) | DNC | 18 | 85 |
| 19 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | Junior | Chris Bowles | | 1156 | 16 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 9 | 17 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 89 |
| 20 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | Junior | Lily Faichney | | 1156 | 5 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 10 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 109 |
| 21 | | Topper | Junior | Max McLaughlin | | 1369 | 4 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 12 | DNC | DNC | 110 |
| 22 | Sportedd | Topper | Junior | Arthur Peregine‑Jones | | 1369 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 8 | 9 | 111 |
| 23 | Graffiti | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 146293 | Henry Medcalf | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 7 | DNC | 11 | 112 |
| 24 | Phew | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 198571 | Chris Taggart | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 5 | (DNC) | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 113 |
| 25 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Club | Alexey Anaskiy | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 8 | (DNC) | 11 | DNC | DNC | 113 |
| 26 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 180963 | Nathianel Ho | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 9 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 16 | DNC | DNC | 119 |
| 27 | | ILCA 6 (RADIAL) | Junior | Jameson Buchanon | | 1156 | 14 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 13 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 121 |
| 28 | Splatter | MERLIN ROCKET | 1631 | Joe McLaughlin | Max McLaughlin | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 2 | 143 |
| 29 | Magician | MERLIN ROCKET | 522 | Tim Barr | Jameson Buchanon | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 2 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 143 |
| 30 | AVXS | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 192517 | John Kemp | | 1103 | (DNC) | 2 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 143 |
| 31 | Club | Topper | Junior | Flora | | 1369 | 6 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 147 |
| 32 | NBTS | MERLIN ROCKET | 3582 | Tim Barr | Jon Howell | 980 | 10 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 151 |
| 33 | Antedote | N18 Ultimate | 348 | Peter Impey | Jon Bowden
D Broomby | 957 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 11 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 152 |
| 34 | Snow Goose | N18 Ultimate | 364 | Mike Adams | Jennifer Adams | 957 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 13 | 154 |
| 35 | Grebe | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Junior | Huw McLaughlin | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 14 | DNC | DNC | 155 |
| 36 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 203973 | Charlie Davies | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 155 |
| 37 | | 2000 | Junior | Toby Halsall | Helena Gray | 1122 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 15 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 156 |
| 38 | | 2000 | Junior | Louis Atherton | Josie Tanner | 1122 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 15 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 156 |
| 39 | Club | Topper | Junior | Toby Swinson‑Howell | | 1369 | 15 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 156 |
| 40 | | 2000 | Junior | Ed Medcalf | Lily Faichney | 1122 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 16 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 157 |
| 41 | | 2000 | Junior | Austin McAsey | Ed Medcalf | 1122 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 16 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 157 |
| 42 | Club | ILCA 7 (LASER) | 171597 | Edwin Simonds | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 19 | 160 |
| 43 | | ILCA 7 (LASER) | Junior | Toby Halsell | | 1103 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 23 | 164 |
| 44 | Seveneye | MERLIN ROCKET | 3520 | Maurice Joseph | Henry Joseph | 980 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 24 | 165 |
| 45 | | Topaz Argo | Junior | Ed Medcalf | Grace Connor | 1135 | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 25 | 166 |
