Team racing and open meeting at Minima Yacht Club

 So it was a real treat to get two days sailing at Kingston last weekend 22/23rd April the annual Minima vs Twickenham Firkin Trophy team races for Enterprises and Solos, followed by the open meetings for the same classes, events the two clubs host in alternate years.

The best conditions were for the Firkin on Saturday, when a southerly came and went on an hourly basis peaking at a briskish force 3-4 and then fading, causing alarm in the Race Box, only to pick up again immediately the course had been shortened.

Minima was determined to regain the trophy after patchy performances in recent years. They were likely to dominate the Ents, the club's strongest class, so the fate of the trophy rested on the shoulders of their veteran Soloists.

And the Solo racing was extremely entertaining, all six boats (three a side) in close touch in all three races, the southerly straight down the reach combined with the still-strong stream to demand fine judgement. Follow a lift out into the middle of the river and risk losing a couple of places to the stream if the puff didn't last. Sometimes this move paid off. It made for a fascinating see-saw contest, in which the Minima team achieved a crucial 1-2-3 in the second race, giving the hosts a 4-2 victory.

Sunday's Open was very different. The stream was meant to be less but wasn't, and the wind had disappeared by the morning - we were in the lull between a southerly and a northerly. Cue the traditional river skills of dramatic roll-tacks, and a lot of near-static sneaking up the Surrey bank, reckoned to be the better side by most, but not all.

The occasional shower completed the cup of joy for a fair turnout of nine Ents and six Solos from six clubs.

After three races some of us had had enough, which was a pity because it was a pleasant sail, with the sun shining and the beginnings of the northerly which brought a lot of cold rain later. Ed secured his Enterprise win leading throughout, but finishing just 30 seconds ahead of clubmate Robin Broomfield in turn just 15 seconds ahead of Ann who he overhauled on the last lap. In the Solos Godfrey Clark was within seven seconds of victory, but Mike Dray squeezed past him on the last leg to make it three firsts.

Firkin Trophy: Minima YC

Enterprise results:

1 Ed Mayley and James Budden (Minima)

2 Ann Jackson and Alan Skeens (Burfield)

3 Robin Broomfield and Paul Bloomfield (Minima)

Solo results:

1 Mike Dray (Littleton)

2 Godfrey Clark (Fishers Green)