Often marking the end of summer, Minima's 2023 regatta felt like its long-awaited beginning.
The forecast was basically for no wind, but to the sailors' delight the sunshine and warmth we hadn't seen for weeks was accompanied by a quirky ENE that occasionally had us all hanging out by our toe straps. In the way of east winds at Kingston, it also occasionally disappeared completely or decided it was WSW.
This produced a real Thames-sailing challenge, thoroughly enjoyed by a total of 26 boats with a bunch of very welcome visitors from Thames, Tamesis and Twickenham helping us to the best turnout for ten years.
The thing about easterlies swirling over Kingston's flats and offices onto Minima's north-south reach is you can rely on them to be unpredictable. A precarious reach up and down the Hampton Court bank should be best bet, the objective being to avoid tacking 90 degrees off track, but particularly on Sunday there was enough north in the breeze to make either side or the middle of the river good choices at times, while the wash from large and small pleasure boats made it hard to spot the windy patches.
Keeping your momentum and finding clear air was critical, but jams at marks were inevitable, while at times both ends of the course required a gybe. Altogether fascinating and fun.
Apart from the coolest jazz by the Matt Sulzmann Trio, the sell-out barbecue and party in Minima's fine old clubhouse on the Saturday night was mightily entertained by drone footage of the races produced by Keith Black. Fortunately the protest deadline was past.
Kingston's mayor, Councillor Diane White presented the prizes with a speech extolling the importance of the river to the borough. Her consort, Mr Jonathan White, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Richard Thorpe, and the Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Lynn Henderson also came for the prize-giving after a busy day at the borough's carnival.
Overall Results: (Minima unless stated)
Enterprise
1 Ed Mayley, James Budden
2 Robin Broomfield, Paul Bloomfield
3 Alex and David Cane
Solo
1 Nick Titley (Twickenham YC)
2 Andy Banks
Laser
1 Henry Medcalf (Tamesis Club)
2 Ed Cubitt
Merlin
Nick Armfield, Jackie Fry/Clare Hindley (Twickenham)
Handicap
Erica Bishop
New Sailors
Lyra Wade (Tamesis)
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