A small but select band group of National 12 sailors, including current and past national champions, and current and past Thames Area champions, turned out for the first event in the 2003 Thames Area, the Royal Thames Yacht Club Trophy, held at Ranelagh Sailing Club on Putney Embankment in London on Sunday 19 January.

In a lull between the forecast gales, the fleet got away on a balmy afternoon in bright sunshine and a Force 1-2 on a traditional starboard-hand sausage course with legs of approximately a mile. Bim Daser and Katy Meadowcroft in ‘Feeling Foolish’ were anything but, acing the reaching start, but were quickly overhauled by current national champions Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne in ‘Thanks For All the Fish’. Five boats arrived at the first mark pretty much together with ‘Fish’ leading away followed by ‘Foolish’ and then Chris Edwards and Rachel in ‘Queen of Puddings’ in close pursuit. The return leg was mostly on starboard, close to the bank to avoid the incoming tidal stream, however, getting too close in the shifting winds was not always a poitive move. On the long fetch back ‘Puddings’ got through ‘Foolish’ however, the leading three remained close until close to the turning mark where the vagaries of the wind allowed the gaps to open up.

On the fetch of the second lap ‘Foolish’ retook second place from ‘Puddings’ in a bit of tacking and were able to stretch away to pursue ‘Fish’ who had opened up a good lead. On the following lap, ‘Foolish’ halved the time deficit to ‘Fish ‘ but were unable to continue the chase as the race was shortened after an hour and a halfs racing. ‘Puddings’ came in third, but a great race was going on for fourth with long time fourth place boat ‘Flying Saucer’ steered by Nigel Edwards getting overhauled by David Kenyon and Ben in ‘Cheshire Cat’ on the last leg.

Overall Results

1st 3469, “Thanks For All The Fish”, Numinous, Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield SC

2nd 3410, “Feeling Foolish”, Feeling Foolish, Bim Daser & Katy Meadowcroft, Ranelagh SC

3rd 3362, “Queen of Puddings”, Final Chapter, Chris Edwards & Rachel, Ranelagh SC

4th 2750, “Cheshire Cat”, Cheshire Cat, David Kenyon & Ben, Ranelgh SC

5th 1277, “Flying Saucer”, Flying Saucer, Nigel Edwards & Crew, Ranelagh SC