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Strand on the Green Sailing Club has a small but enthusiastic sailing membership. If you'd like to join us, you'd be more than welcome. New social members also welcome.
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To see race results and read a brief race report, click the down arrow below and choose a date.

Our races provide entertainment for drinkers outside the Bull's Head and City Barge pubs. Currently sailed at Strand, in order of popularity: Enterprises, Lasers, Solos, a Pico, and the club boat - a Gull, which can be hired out for £5 at race times.

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Gins Weekend 2008

This years outing to Gins was a great success for all those who made it there; though slightly tempered by car/ditch interaction. In keeping with most of this summer there was plenty of wind, over 30 knots in the Solent, but equally unusually on Saturday morning the sky was clear and blue and the sun was warm. A fleet of four smaller boats two Enterprises an Albacore and the Floyer special French day boat were complimented by a Bavaria 36 hired by the Bergers.

The warm weather and a clement forecast inspired confidence in the small boats and a decision was made to explore Kings Quay a small inlet east of Osborne Bay on the Isle of Wight. The trip over was made in quick time with a good half wind and following tide. Nick and Sally Floyer with Henry and Mary Brown as crew arrived first followed by Chris and Mary Greenwood in an Enterprise. An attempt to anchor and wait for the tide to rise before entering the creek was defeated by the rising wind and when Dave and Sheila Berger in the Albacore and Hugh and Miranda Kemlo in their Enterprise arrived, all beached and had a picnic. After some debate the sea was deemed either too cold or too soupy and the annual swim was postponed. A rising tide invited the Kemlos to sail partly up the creek whilst the rest of the fleet departed for home. The wind, which was now swinging to the west and increasing, was in opposition to the tide and provoked the more unpredictable wave patterns for which the Solent is famous. The fleet had a somewhat wet return to the Beaulieu and helpful advice from the Kemlos saw the Greenwoods returning home on jib alone gaining increasing confidence in their boat and pondering on the need for better preparation.

The supper at the club in the evening was a great feast with around 20 people including Tony Smith and Edmund Rutherfoord who had driven down from Chiswick. The service from the club was first class and added to the convivial atmosphere.

On Sunday the overnight rain, clouds and forecast were altogether less inviting and the small boats elected to sail up-river for the swim and a picnic above Bucklers Hard followed by a trip to Beaulieu. This is a beautiful stretch of river, a little like our home stretch of the Thames in that the wind strength, the bendiness of the river and unexpected shallows make sailing very variable. The pay-off was an excellent cup of tea from the Montague Arms, secreted confidently from the tea room to the waters edge.

Monday promised stronger winds and the ever iron-shaded clouds. Two boats, the Floyers plus Bridget and Miranda and Hugh Kemlo plus Ann and Philip set off up river. The big boat under the command of Rachel set off for a cruise up to Bucklers Hard and then on a rising tide back out into the Solent. By this time the westerly wind was getting up to over 30 kts at times and the crew including Kurt, Alec, Gillie, Andy Ross, Enoch Rodrigues and Chris sailed to and from the island several times eventually making some headway to the west against wind and tide, their passage impeded by a stream of east bound yachts and marked by the eerie sound of the bell buoy north of Gurnard Bay.

Our thanks go to Kurt for his organisation, to RSYC for their hospitality and to everyone who participated for an excellent weekend.

Chris Greenwood
August 2008

Annual DANCE 2008

This was a great success, thanks to the efforts of Marian Armitage, Heather Adams and the Craigevar Scottish Dance Band. Thanks are also due to all the local restaurants and businesses who donated prizes for the raffle, which makes an important contribution to Club funds and allows us to stay in the black.

AGM 2008

The AGM was held on Wednesday 13th February at 8.30 pm. There were 19 members present, and the Commodoreship was duly passed on from James Armitage (to whom, thanks) to Chris Greenwood (to whom, more thanks). The rest of the committee continue to serve, so the club remains in good hands.

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Gins Weekend 2007

In the midst of a damp grey summer, Gins this year was sparkling seas, blue skies, HOT.
Early arrivals had supper at the clubhouse on Friday, and Newtown as Saturday's destination was, for once, decided early. In the morning the fleet began to set off and with only the Floyers' lovely French dayboat and Hugh and Miranda's Enterprise still to launch, a taxi screeched to a halt bearing the Browns, hotfoot from France via Bournemouth airport, and only having expected to arrive at Gins in time for the evening's supper. The Floyers took them aboard on Saturday and Monday, and on Sunday they joined Michael and Sarah Kemlo and Kurt and Margaret Berger in Scorcher. The Floyers had also hired a Wayfarer for Hugo,Toby, Biddy and friend Brec and with Dave and Sheila Berger's Enterprise, that was the total SGSC fleet. We were joined by Brock, a 32ft Westerley, skipper Jeremy Whiting, crew Liz and Beverley from LCSC.
A good sail in a north westerly across to Newtown was followed by lunch for most rafted up to Scorcher, and a most excellent swim. Beating back up the Beaulieu river in the evening light was a delight, as ever. The dinner that evening was very convivial with the party now extended to about 25, with Tony and Margaret and Andy Ross driving down from London for the evening.
On Sunday the plan was Hurst Castle or Yarmouth but in the event, with not much wind and lunch overdue, we stopped in the mouth of the Lymington river where despite gloopy mud only about 3 ft down, and some dire warnings about cleanliness, almost the whole party eventually braved the water. It was hard to resist on such a day.
That evening we all went to the Mayflower Inn at Lymington for an excellent (mostly) pub barbeque eaten either in darkness or by torchlight.
Monday as usual was a potter upriver to Beaulieu where we picnicked on a grassy bank, joined by Michael, Maggie, Sarah and Rebecca Kemlo who came by road. Then it was back to Gins slightly later than planned, to find just enough water left to allow the boats to be pulled out without too much difficulty and with most of the mud confined to feet and trailer wheels.
Sally Floyer magicked tea and lemon cake from their camper van in the carpark which enormously improved the packing up process, and sadly, it was all over for another year.
Not a huge turnout but pleasure is measured in quality not quantity and it was a fabulous weekend. And four open boats and two yachts with a complement of 19 happy sailors wasn't bad either.
Thanks as ever to the Royal Southampton Yacht Club for their hospitality and to Kurt for organising it all.

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Strand visit to LCSC, 14 / 15 July 2007

The two days could not have been a greater contrast in sailing conditions. Only James was towed down on the Saturday (thanks, Andy) to face two other Ents and two Lasers. It was a steady F4 westerly, with stronger gusts and lumpy conditions with wind against tide. The race resolved itself into a struggle between Rees and Hugh Kemlo (Lasers, both LCSC) in the lead and James and Beverley + ? at a discrete distance in the Ents. After a two-hour struggle Rees was ahead of Hugh, the lasers taking first and second places, and James was seconds ahead of Beverley in third place. Everyone capsized at some point but it was an excellent race.

The Browns, the Birches (in the Gull) and John Bull (in the Otter) were towed down on the Sunday, which was humid, still and threatening rain. They joined a similar number of LCSC boats. What wind there was was ENE to E, and very light. Several boats paddled or were towed to get the right side of the start line and the start was a collective drift with tide and a little help from above. The two upstream buoys were rounded without too much difficulty before the slow and painful business of beating up the bank began. Two Lasers and three Ents were making good progress until they had to leave the back-eddies along the bank and head into the current to round the LCSC pontoons. James made it, as did a couple of Lasers, but they then struggled to make the downstream mark. The Browns and Beverley struggled for an hour and a half without avail; Hugh got round the lower mark and gave up on the way back from the upstream marks; Rees never made it past the lower mark. And James (with Edward Broadhurst) lapped everyone, creeping without apparent effort along the bank, to complete three laps. To add to the delights we had a thunderstorm with lightning strikes uncomfortably close and a biblical deluge of rain.

So SGSC acquitted itself well: James got the silverware both for Sunday and for the combined event, leaving Rees (LCSC) with the cup for Saturday. Many thanks as usual to LCSC for their hospitality, and many thanks to Tony for his long wet day in the safety boat.

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LCSC visit 13 May 2007

We had been promised a contingent from the Southbank Sailing Club in Putney, as well as London Corinthian Sailing Club, but the weather forecast was so dire - wet and windless - that only three hardy boats came up from LCSC and none from Putney.

We had organised a C Course and trailed a line upstream of Kew Bridge for boats to hold on to before the start. In the event it was in a wind shadow and most boats made use of the Surrey-side moorings.

The race was uneventful. A gentle and fitful easterly meant that we had a running sort of reach up to Isleworth and a beat back along the Middlesex bank. James got a lead on the way up which he extended on the way back. David Jones and the Browns were next around the top mark, almost together, and the rest of the fleet followed at not much greater pace than the tide. The return journey, initially against the tide, was a good exercise in bank-creeping, tree-dodging, and roll-tacking. Robin and Beverley from LCSC caught and overtook the Browns at Brentford Dock and clung on to their lead to finish second. The Browns were third followed by John Bull and David Jones, who lost position to the second LCSC Ent on the handicap calculation. The third LCSC Ent capsized and retired, perhaps trying too hard to roll-tack.

It rained gently much of the time but not enough to dampen the spirits. Colin, Tony and Edmund did very effective service in helping boats through Kew Bridge and Jenny withstood the elements to supervise the race.

The après-race was as good as ever: a very welcome tasty keg from Steve Newell, and food contributed by several members and masterminded by Marian. Strand retained the Challenge Trophy (a team prize).

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Gins weekend 2006

What a weekend it was! Well up to standard. There were three Strand Ents. (James Armitage, Dave and Sheila Berger, and Hugh and Miranda Kemlo); the Floyers in their beautiful new boat (a smaller version of Ratty the revenue cutter, built in France and called Swan in Breton); two Ents. from London Corinthians (Jeremy + friend and Beverley and Kirsten); and a Wanderer (Ben and Alan, we think). The fleet was shepherded by Michael Kemlo and crew in his yacht Scorcher and the Browns / Birches / Bergers (Snr.) in a 33ft Najad sloop called Tern IV, chartered for the weekend from the Hamble.

Saturday morning was passed in the traditional way: discussing where to go and when to set off. It was noon by the time everyone was launched and on the way to Newtown River (which is, of course, where we always go). The little blue sails were soon dispersed across the Solent: a beat down the mainland side in the slacker flood tide and a dashing reach across to the island. We on Tern IV saw them in the distance and followed into the mouth of the river where we rafted up with Scorcher and James for lunch. The other dinghies beached up towards Shalfleet to picnic or to visit the pub.

The sail back was exhilarating in a F3 - 4 westerly breeze and sunshine, and the dinghies left the big boats well behind. It gave everyone a healthy appetite for the evening meal in the RSYC: a large table-full of about 30 Strand and LCSC voyagers and friends.

The forecast next day was NW F3-4, increasing F5-7 later with rain then showers. Not the most inviting prospect. The consensus was to sail down the river, poke our noses into the Solent, and return up to Beaulieu or Bucklers Hard. Perhaps predictably, once the dinghies were out in the Solent, and it was bright, sunny and perfectly manageable, the fleet decided to head across to Cowes. From there we all went up the Medina to the Folly Inn for lunch. With the tide still at the stand we set off back down river, aware that the wind had indeed picked up. At the mouth we were confronted by a good F5, gusting more, with white horses all over the place, stirred into the notorious Solent chop by motor boats, and augmented by a power boat race that was taking place just to the west. All the dinghies bar one promptly dropped their mainsails and bounced their way back, white-knuckled, in clouds of spray. Exhilerating, to say the least.The forecast rain didn't materialise but the crews were just as wet as if it had. In the mouth of the Beaulieu mainsails were raised again for a slog against wind and tide, but in calm waters, back up to Gins.

Dave and Sheila, in an impressive display of boat handling, came back the whole way with the main up. Beverley and Kirsten had had enough when they reached the Beaulieu and accepted a tow from Tern IV back to Gins. That evening everyone found their way to the Kemlos' house in Lymington for a splendid and convivial meal in the garden.

More strong winds were forecast on Monday morning, so the remains of the fleet made its way upstream to Buckler's Hard. Tern IV picked up a spare mooring and was promptly joined by the Floyers, the Kemlos and the junior Bergers: fifteen people crammed cheerfully into the cockpit to consume the collective picnic leftovers.

Tern IV then had an urgent appointment in the Hamble, so we dropped Kurt and Margaret back at Gins and enjoyed a sizzling sail back, with two reefs, touching 7 knots on a beat.

So ended another unforgettable Gins weekend. Many thanks, as usual, to Kurt for the organising, and to both the RSYC and the Lymington Kemlos for their hospitality. And how nice to have some Corinthians along. Let's hope it's the start of another tradition.

(By the way, Gins reports from 2005 and 2004 and lower down on this page, in the archive.)

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Watch your speed ... when driving the safety boat

There is a speed limit of 8 knots on the river above Wandsworth. Rowing club launches are now required to seek approval from the PLA to exceed this limit when escorting rowing boats. If they are likely to carry more than two crew, their wash is to be tested by the PLA. We are OK if we only speed in response to emergencies, but shepherding the fleet on a B or C course is another matter. We do not need to be tested - yet - but if there are any complaints about our wash, that may be required.

So, watch your speed, especially near rowing boats, and don't carry more than two in the safety boat if you are going to go faster than 8 knots.

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Email addresses please!

Anyone who is interested in reading the racing results each week should please give me their email address. I can't always put the results on the site at once - but I can easily email you to tell you when they are there - which would save you looking for them in vain. So please email me - just click on this link now - and I'll add you to the group to notify - mary@brownsox.co.uk
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Second hand boats etc for sale

No boats currently for sale.

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News archive:

SGSC Annual dinner dance 2007 - the social event of the year!

The dance, held on Saturday March 3rd at the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, was a great success.
Live music was provided by the Portobello Jazz Band. Some were delighted, others regretted not having the Scottish dancing of the last few years. Make your opinions known to the Committee!

The raffle raised £390 for club funds which ensures that the dance overall will at least break even, and hopefully there will be a small profit. Andrew Ross won the main prize - a weekend in St Ives. Prizes were kindly donated - for example by several local pubs and restaurants.

The summer party 2007 was held in Jo and Tom's garden, many thanks to them. Despite an unpromising day's weather, there was a good turnout. About 30 of us enjoyed the company, the setting, and the excellent food (thanks Marian) and the rain held off all evening.

Practice Races -June 3rd - report by Andy Ross

OOD: Andy Ross
Assistant Timekeeper: Master Josh Aitken
Safety Boat: Tony Smith

A warm and sultry Sunday afternoon for slow manoeuvrings in a series of Practice Races.
Six boats were out for the leisurely contemplation of how to cross the start line, if at all, with a fickle tide and slack winds to attempt two practice starts; with a third start for real intended to precipitate a race around a triangular 'A'' course..
Paul, ever-anxious to be ahead of the pack was over the line at the first start and so returned to cross it fifth while Ian perfected the art of sailing backwards, never to cross the line.
On the second start, Paul judged it perfectly in pole position followed by John in the Laser while Chris in the old dog known as Solly showed it could learn new tricks when crewed by James and was let off the leash into third place, with Robert Collingwood and crewman Tim Aitken beating up into fourth - while Ian drifted yet further towards Kew Bridge.
For the final, critical race helms and crews strengthened the sinews and tilted for the line at the slowest possible speed with John a clear first crosser followed by Paul and then David with Rob/Tim determined to maintain fourth slot backed up by Chris/James in fifth - while Ian drifted towards ever-closer union with Kew Bridge.
But fortune favours the brave. Paul overheard whispers of wind and went behind the arras of moorings to round the far buoy and then the home mark and decide to trample all opposition by rounding the whole course for a second time; the only boat to do so. Lapping the whole fleet to the finish line.
But Chris /James bounded up to second. David squeezed in third. John found solace in contemplation of stillness and sacrificed first place for fourth. Robert & Tim decided that the more interested challenge was in sailing the reverse way round the course - and then headed for home.
Meanwhile, Ian, deep from the shadows of Kew Bridge showed that persistence pays off and triumphantly brought his Solo up to the mark to both start and finish the race simultaneously; a masterclass of practice making perfect.
Detailed statistical analysis shows that there was no significant correlation between the start positions crossing the line and the finishing position. Nor was there any significant difference in the starting position of each boat for each race. The practice races therefore demonstrated clearly, once again, that sailing at Strand on the Green is as much a matter of chance from the start of the race to the finish. Anyone can win. And anyone can lose.

Congratulations to Master Josh Aitken for maintaining the vital time-keeping records.

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First race report 2007

Quite a start. It was blowing very hard, with treacherous gusts and eddies. A Beaufort force 6 apparently, with gusts up to 7 recorded on Tony's anenometer. And bitterly cold. Most who had planned to sail turned up in spectator mode, whistling through their teeth and shaking their heads.
But there were some who were hardier. Joseph Armitage went out first and between capsizes roared across the river and back, having a great time. And Roz Houchin, to the admiration of all, took her "new" Laser out for the very first time. She gave it a really good go, with some balletic moves to right the boat, but not a lot of actual sailing could be managed. It was an amazingly brave performance, when most of us wouldn't have dared. Even James decided against this time.
There was a good crowd in the arch after the "race" who all enjoyed the hot rum and blackcurrant and the hot cross buns, kindly provided respectively by Paul W and Andy.

Ladies' Plate & Summer Party 2006

Three fairly apprehensive helms contested the Ladies' Plate this year and were rewarded with a light wind which was fortunately not a total drifter. So progress round the course could be made, give or take some running aground.
The winner was Mary Brown, crewed by Henry. Second Jo Broadhurst crewed by Sam, and third Mary Greenwood crewed by Chris.

In the evening it was the summer party, held in Kurt and Margaret Berger's lovely garden. As usual Marian did a wonderful job of organising a great meal (wow that pudding!), and the evening was enjoyed by all.

Sound signals

Rob Adams noticed this information on the web. Useful to know what the correct sound signals are, by which powered boats may announce their intentions ... occasionally ...
Click on this link then just scroll down the page a little way.

Link to a rowing webpage with info about sound signals

Gins Farm trip 2005

Gins Farm is the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's outpost on the Beaulieu River. It's a Strand club tradition to have a weekend trip there, and to sail the dinghies aand usually some bigger boats across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
Thanks to Nick Floyer for this report:

The expedition to Gins was a more intimate affair than in past years, though kind organiser Kurt Berger had done his best. The RSYC, in their splendidly refurbished clubhouse on the Beaulieu River, was welcoming as ever, and allowed the seven-strong Floyer contingent to create a tent city on the yacht club lawn.
Saturday gave us sunshine, high tide at mid-day, and a strong SE wind. Four boats sailed for Newtown harbour: Hugh and Miranda Kemlo in their Enterprise, Michael and Maggie Kemlo with family and friends in their 35ft cruiser Scorcher, Kurt and Margaret Berger with local Alan in his Hawk dayboat, and the Floyers in their 18ft cutter. While most made a fast passage and picnicked in Shalfleet creek, a phone call from Miranda, saying that the prospect of having to return against wind and tide and a temperamental centreboard had limited them to Gurnard, caused some consternation, as did the Floyers' late return, having stopped to swim. The larger boats close-reached home, slowly and wetly against the ebb; all survived squally conditions at the mouth of the river, and had a quick run upstream.
The dinner in the evening was the usual cheerful affair, with twenty present, including commodore Tony Smith and a good balance of ages.
Sunday gave us more sunshine and an even stronger SE wind. Only the Hugh Kemlos and the Floyers had remained to sail, and we went upstream to find an unoccupied jetty half a mile above Buckler's Hard. Unusually, there were no forbidding notices except for No Fishing, a prohibition which a number of large fish were taking full advantage of. We swam and had lunch in the sun before returning, the Floyers under engine but no faster than the quick-tacking Enterprise, to take the boats ashore before the tide dropped.
The weekend was much enjoyed by those who were there, and but for the strength of the wind, conditions were ideal. Next year, we hope to have the three-day August Bank Holiday weekend again, and to be joined by lots more Strand sailors.

Nick Floyer

Gins Farm weekend - 2004

The Gins weekend is when we take our dinghies down to the Solent, launching from the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's clubhouse at Gins on the Beaulieu River.
Dinghies taking part this year - James and Joseph Armitage in Porpoise, Dave and Sheila Berger in their smart new Enterprise, Stafford Craig and friend in Wayfarer. Also the splendid Revenue Cutter, Water Rat, belonging to Sally and Nick Floyer and family, this year Biddy, Hugo and Phoebe. They were joined, as last year, by a Hawk 20 which took Ruth Narain over the waters on the Saturday. And this year the debut of Jessie - Henry and Mary and Brown's new trailer sailer, a Trapper TS240. The fleet assembled about 11am and set sail for Newtown Creek in a nice westerly breeze. Kurt and Margaret made the crossing in Jessie with the Browns. Most of the fleet moored at Shalfleet jetty and some went off to the not-so-nearby pub. As the tide started to ebb those that could set sail for home. The pub contingent had to do a bit of mud wrestling to relaunch, and Jessie made good use of her lifting keel ... and rudder. Another lovely sail across to the Beaulieu and a splendid beat back up the river to Gins. There were 27 at the evening feast in the Gins clubhouse, as the sailers were joined by, among others, a contingent of (Michael) Kemlos, and Tony and Margaret Smith.
Sunday was cold and too windy to contemplate another crossing to the island. So the dinghies made their way up to Beaulieu for a picnic on the green. The Browns and Ruth Narain hitched a lift with Dave Jones in the safety boat. Most of the fleet stopped for tea at Bucklers Hard on the way back. Jessie then set off on a breezy jolly down river with Dave and Sheila aboard and explored some ways of hoisting twisted sails and again, discovered the virtues of a lifting keel.
Kurt had arranged an evening meal at the Turfcutters' Arms in East Boldre for all who could attend.
Monday was a better day for wind but, running short of time, sailing activities were restricted. James and Joseph joined Kurt and the Browns on Jessie and, followed by Dave Jones and Margaret in the safety boat, and the Floyers in Water Rat, went on a brisk spin down the river and out into the Solent. As on the Saturday, Jessie did the right SGSC thing and beat all the way back up the river as though she were a dinghy.
Another very enjoyable weekend. Many thanks to Kurt for the organisation, Dave Jones for the comforting presence of the safety boat, and the RSYC for their hospitality.

The Enterprise Open at London Corinthians Sailing Club 23/3/03,- report by Rob Adams

It was a warm sunny spring afternoon and gentle force 2/3 breeze. 16 boats entered, we were the only official representative from SGSC this year, but two others who learnt their skills at SGSC (and also grew up in the same house, no 66) were there. Robert Collingwood with his son Patrick(Sat) and wife Lucy (Sunday) sailing very fast on the beats and of course Hugh Kemlo who eventually came 3rd overall.

Heather and I arrived late on Sunday (after officiating at the SGSC race earlier) but with enough time to get out on the water. There was an impressive array of new hardware including David Beaney in a brand new fibreglass Enterprise! In the first race we got off to a poor start but immediately tacked on to port and out into the tide through a melee of boats into clear wind and better tide. We had a good beat all the way to Barnes, cutting through the fleet with our usual weighty momentum. At the mark we were able to see that the front runners had no luck against the tide on the Barnes shore so we took off to the Chiswick side gaining a few places, leaving us about 6th place but expecting the worst with a long run back to the club house. We were pleasantly surprised by our competitiveness only allowing (respectfully) Hugh Kemlo crewed by LCSC Commodore Beverly past us. At the island we snuck tight into the eddy up the side of the Island to look behind and see a familiar Enterprise crewed by the ghost of Bill Simpson charging up behind. Intending them to go outside we hailed "no room in there" so they immediately tried - only to find that they ran straight into a willow tree! Bill would not have approved. The answer from the helm Terry (Bill's old crew) was "it was the only way to slow down". In the run into the line we had the usual thrill of seemingly coming from behind to overtake the lot on the outside, but it wasn't to be, we ended up 5th in a close bunch.

Second race, much of the same, but to the end of the island only, the pecking order establishing itself at the end of the beat with the two Beaneys in front, Hugh snapping at their heals with us in with a new bunch of LCSC keen Enterprise sailors, including Bill's Ghost, Val from Bulgaria, and a few other less familiar faces.
A good event, more boats and great hospitality and well run.
Why don't we put it in the calendar and come en-mass next year?

News from the north (from Dave and Sheila Berger who no longer sail regularly at Strand - only because it's just a bit too far to commute from East Yorkshire every Sunday)

As I write this the day time temperature has not crept above freezing out of the sun for a full three days. I have been idly looking at the excellent SGSC website to remind myself what we're awaiting before the new season gets underway.

The news from Yorkshire is that - horror of horrors - the Bergers have bought a different boat! I would have said new, but it's actually almost 30 years old - a nice wooden Albacore: "By Jingo". Dave decided that as we were the lone Ent at Hornsea SC we might as well get a boat that at least one other sailor was sailing so we could have some boat-for-boat comparisons on the water. This Albacore has had little use in the past 8 years or so - it's previous owner having spent much time coaching and taxi-ing his son in a Topper to some very useful effect (like the National squad).

To date we have not yet launched the boat - so don't even know if it floats! - however to ease the transition Dave has been tinkering with fittings so that at least the usual Kicker, outhaul and cunningham will fall easily to hand.

Albacores have a few more bits of string - like a fly-away jib stick (one pull and it's set) which should cause fewer inadvertent dunkings on those windy runs when previously someone had to go forward to set/retrieve the stick. Also they have adjustable shrouds - so the trick is to let the rig right forward on the run. This sounds good till you think about what may be involved in a gybe - do you gybe with no rig tension? old windward shroud on/leeward shroud off (or vice versa) and what about those frenetic roundings back onto the beat when you completely forget to put the tension on again and find yourself sliding back down the fleet even though you have checked for weed round the rudder and have remembered to put the centreboard down!

The Albacore has no spinnaker, but at 15 foot, though relatively heavy (240 pounds or so in sailing trim) it is an excellent sea boat (can't wait for Gin's Farm 2008!) and quirkily recently became the fastest mono-hull!! - in Canada ( see: http://www.albacore.org.uk) it was in loads of wind and for a very short burst of speed - there was a weblink - seems to have disappeared).

Another former SGSC member - David Sibthorp did sail an Albacore with his wife Jenny - I think in the distant past they even joined us at Gin's as they were based in Portsmouth - I have guilty memory of pulling his Albacore into the car park at Royal Southampton and shorting out the main 3 phase power lines - bowing a hole in his mast and causing the lights (and galley, showers etc) to be out of action for a couple of hours!

Dave and Sheila look forward to joining some of the Strand sailing this year - we're holding on to the Ent just in case we don't get on with the "old man's boat" that the Albacore has a reputation for being!

Dave & Sheila Berger
18/2/2008
E 22807 & A 76836

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Dave and Sheila Berger - sailing news from t'north

Sheila and I have been properly based up in Beverley (near Hull) for just over a year now, and we were worried that we might not find good Enterprise sailing around here, having had many good spats on the Thames with James, Rob, Mary 'n' Henry and others over the previous years. We need not have worried! We have alighted on Hornsea Mere as our "base" club after having sailed a few of the "Cock of the North" Enterprise Open Meeting series - early on in rather more wind than we were able to cope with. Things have settled down now, and we have had many good outings in varied conditions on Hornsea - a 40 acre natural lake just inshore from the North Sea - historically it was a sea inlet, but now is cut off from the sea and has fresh water - almost drinkable!

The waters are rather like one of the Norfolk Broads - fairly shallow in many places - nowhere more than 8 foot deep and some notable shoals to be avoided. Later in the season there were some weed problems too.

We have taken part in 5 of the Cock of the North series so far - with results in the various meetings ranging from 14th (actually last! - we only finished one race out of three) to our best position 3rd. Competition has been hot to say the least - Gez Brown who won the Typhoon Grand Prix series (Enterprise Opens) was a frequent competitor. Conditions have ranged from as slow a drift as you can imagine at Welton (a gravel pit next to the Humber estuary) to Force 6-7 at Hykeham (near Lincoln) and Rotherham. The last event (which we had decided not to do) on Sunday 27th Oct was postponed due to severe gales - so we still have a chance to improve our present position of 7th for the C of the N series this year.

At a club level at Hornsea we have not been static either. There is only one regularly-sailed other Ent, and we can always come in ahead of him, but we are compensating for that by doing the Yachtmasters' Shore based theory at evening Class on Tuesdays with Brian, who sails that Ent, and with whom we have struck up a good friendship.

There is some stiff competition however in the form of a couple of very well-sailed Fireflies and some Swordfishes (imagine an overgrown - 15 foot Firefly with a spinnaker). Latterly there has also been a new boat to beat in the form of a Miracle sailed by one of the Music Lecturers (a woman) from Hull University. She is very competitive in Fireflies as a crew - they came 8th in the Nationals, but sails as helm with her bloke who is only starting to sail - but they're doing pretty well and we cannot afford to go to sleep!

Dave Berger (and crew Sheila)

Dave Berger in Southport 24 hour dinghy race

Despite getting in quite a bit of sailing at Hornsea and in the Cock of the North series, I decided to ask/offer myself as a helm to the London Corinthians' Southport 24hour team in September for a bit of variety.

The event has been going for over 30 years and has an awesome reputation for heavy weather. The Marine Lake at Southport is shallow and hence safe (around 4-5 foot deep everywhere - except for the bits that stick up above the water!) and the event is held from Saturday 12 noon to Sunday 12 noon. LCSC has entered the event before - I did contemplate joining their team in about 1972!! - but in fact this was the first time I have been involved in the 24hr event.

I drove over on the Saturday morning - the team (most of them) and boat had arrived on Friday night and camped in the grounds. The boat had been carefully prepared - we had no breakages - though one heart stopping moment when we launched for the start - the shackle on the main sheet at the end of the boom fell off - had to be quickly replaced and taped up!!

Chris Eade, the LCSC Factotum - he manages the bar, food, clubhouse etc. was shore-based manager for the team. Crews would be rostered to sail for 2 hours at a time, and come in for a racing pit stop to change over at the end of their shift. We had variable conditions from a reasonable force 3 to force 0, and lap times - yes you endlessly go round a triangular course - varied from 13 minutes to an hour and 13!!

We sailed through the night - I did a stint just before dark on Saturday - 6 - 8pm and was rostered to do 3-5am on Sunday. In the event I sailed the second of my shifts from 9 - 11.20am or so - there were arguments and disputes in the night - trying to get the balance right between fast sailing and giving everyone a fair crack.

Technique is all important and really smooth boat handing pays enormous dividends. I am glad to say that with my super crew Paul Bassett we held our own - managed to overtake some boats and but lost a few places when it got really light. Alan Beaney was definitely our fastest helm, but I flew the flag in style for the SGSC contingent. Our LCSC boat came in 24th at the end of the 24 hours, having at best been 19th. We started in the 30 - 40 (i.e. fourth group and 12 minutes behind the first starters) having entry number 38, so we did pretty well. The leading two boats were both from the host club, West Lancs Yacht Club, and there was only a minute or so between them by the end of 24 hours - one an Ent and the other a GP14.

It's a great event - very well organised. It needs at least 12 people I think, though some teams were fewer - but concentrating hard under that pressure and throughout the hours of darkness takes energy and stamina - and I was definitely sailing less well towards the end of each stint than earlier, even though I have been sailing longer races this year to get into training.

The event can be read about on the WLYC website
(Ed: There's also a general account of the race on the Corinthians website. Look for 18 Sep in the scrolling list of news items on the left, and click on: Southport 24 Hour write up & photos)

If you are interested in doing the event, it would be worth considering combining with LCSC and maybe then entering 2 teams. Competition is hot, and the fastest boats were very new and shiny - boat speed as well as handling counts for lots.

Oh and I didn't mention that it's one long party did I!! - bar and food available non-stop from Friday afternoon through to 2pm Sunday!! with disco, fairground rides next door and convivial company.

Dave Berger

Corinthians weekend

We had two excellent days sailing at LCSC on 17 and 18 July. The tow on the Saturday consisted of John Bull, the Browns and the Adams' and they were joined by Paul Williamson sailing for SGSC on his other home waters. It was a day for the Lasers and LCSC came in first and second. Rob was the first Enterprise home and was given third place on handicap. The Brown's Ent was the next blue sail after a lucky (crafty) decision to favour the wind rather than the current alongside the eyot on lap one.

Nigel Birch, Ruth Narain and David Eccles were towed down on the Sunday to join the Strand "team" for another excellent race. Once again it was a day for Lasers but Rob beat all other Ents to come third on handicap. Ruth entertained us with a screaming run towards the line that avoided a fatal gybe by an impressive 360 manoeuvre. So LCSC gained the honours on both days and also laid on sunshine and a magnificent feast at the end augmented by free beer all round from Fullers. Many thanks to all concerned.

The new safety boat proved that it could do the business on the tow back in the capable hands of Tony and David.

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The Enterprise Open at London Corinthians Sailing Club 23/3/03,- report by Rob Adams

It was a warm sunny spring afternoon and gentle force 2/3 breeze. 16 boats entered, we were the only official representative from SGSC this year, but two others who learnt their skills at SGSC (and also grew up in the same house, no 66) were there. Robert Collingwood with his son Patrick(Sat) and wife Lucy (Sunday) sailing very fast on the beats and of course Hugh Kemlo who eventually came 3rd overall.

Heather and I arrived late on Sunday (after officiating at the SGSC race earlier) but with enough time to get out on the water. There was an impressive array of new hardware including David Beaney in a brand new fibreglass Enterprise! In the first race we got off to a poor start but immediately tacked on to port and out into the tide through a melee of boats into clear wind and better tide. We had a good beat all the way to Barnes, cutting through the fleet with our usual weighty momentum. At the mark we were able to see that the front runners had no luck against the tide on the Barnes shore so we took off to the Chiswick side gaining a few places, leaving us about 6th place but expecting the worst with a long run back to the club house. We were pleasantly surprised by our competitiveness only allowing (respectfully) Hugh Kemlo crewed by LCSC Commodore Beverly past us. At the island we snuck tight into the eddy up the side of the Island to look behind and see a familiar Enterprise crewed by the ghost of Bill Simpson charging up behind. Intending them to go outside we hailed "no room in there" so they immediately tried - only to find that they ran straight into a willow tree! Bill would not have approved. The answer from the helm Terry (Bill's old crew) was "it was the only way to slow down". In the run into the line we had the usual thrill of seemingly coming from behind to overtake the lot on the outside, but it wasn't to be, we ended up 5th in a close bunch.

Second race, much of the same, but to the end of the island only, the pecking order establishing itself at the end of the beat with the two Beaneys in front, Hugh snapping at their heals with us in with a new bunch of LCSC keen Enterprise sailors, including Bill's Ghost, Val from Bulgaria, and a few other less familiar faces.
A good event, more boats and great hospitality and well run.
Why don't we put it in the calendar and come en-mass next year?

Dave and Sheila Berger - sailing news from t'north

Sheila and I have been properly based up in Beverley (near Hull) for just over a year now, and we were worried that we might not find good Enterprise sailing around here, having had many good spats on the Thames with James, Rob, Mary 'n' Henry and others over the previous years. We need not have worried! We have alighted on Hornsea Mere as our "base" club after having sailed a few of the "Cock of the North" Enterprise Open Meeting series - early on in rather more wind than we were able to cope with. Things have settled down now, and we have had many good outings in varied conditions on Hornsea - a 40 acre natural lake just inshore from the North Sea - historically it was a sea inlet, but now is cut off from the sea and has fresh water - almost drinkable!

The waters are rather like one of the Norfolk Broads - fairly shallow in many places - nowhere more than 8 foot deep and some notable shoals to be avoided. Later in the season there were some weed problems too.

We have taken part in 5 of the Cock of the North series so far - with results in the various meetings ranging from 14th (actually last! - we only finished one race out of three) to our best position 3rd. Competition has been hot to say the least - Gez Brown who won the Typhoon Grand Prix series (Enterprise Opens) was a frequent competitor. Conditions have ranged from as slow a drift as you can imagine at Welton (a gravel pit next to the Humber estuary) to Force 6-7 at Hykeham (near Lincoln) and Rotherham. The last event (which we had decided not to do) on Sunday 27th Oct was postponed due to severe gales - so we still have a chance to improve our present position of 7th for the C of the N series this year.

At a club level at Hornsea we have not been static either. There is only one regularly-sailed other Ent, and we can always come in ahead of him, but we are compensating for that by doing the Yachtmasters' Shore based theory at evening Class on Tuesdays with Brian, who sails that Ent, and with whom we have struck up a good friendship.

There is some stiff competition however in the form of a couple of very well-sailed Fireflies and some Swordfishes (imagine an overgrown - 15 foot Firefly with a spinnaker). Latterly there has also been a new boat to beat in the form of a Miracle sailed by one of the Music Lecturers (a woman) from Hull University. She is very competitive in Fireflies as a crew - they came 8th in the Nationals, but sails as helm with her bloke who is only starting to sail - but they're doing pretty well and we cannot afford to go to sleep!

Dave Berger (and crew Sheila)

Dave Berger in Southport 24 hour dinghy race

Despite getting in quite a bit of sailing at Hornsea and in the Cock of the North series, I decided to ask/offer myself as a helm to the London Corinthians' Southport 24hour team in September for a bit of variety.

The event has been going for over 30 years and has an awesome reputation for heavy weather. The Marine Lake at Southport is shallow and hence safe (around 4-5 foot deep everywhere - except for the bits that stick up above the water!) and the event is held from Saturday 12 noon to Sunday 12 noon. LCSC has entered the event before - I did contemplate joining their team in about 1972!! - but in fact this was the first time I have been involved in the 24hr event.

I drove over on the Saturday morning - the team (most of them) and boat had arrived on Friday night and camped in the grounds. The boat had been carefully prepared - we had no breakages - though one heart stopping moment when we launched for the start - the shackle on the main sheet at the end of the boom fell off - had to be quickly replaced and taped up!!

Chris Eade, the LCSC Factotum - he manages the bar, food, clubhouse etc. was shore-based manager for the team. Crews would be rostered to sail for 2 hours at a time, and come in for a racing pit stop to change over at the end of their shift. We had variable conditions from a reasonable force 3 to force 0, and lap times - yes you endlessly go round a triangular course - varied from 13 minutes to an hour and 13!!

We sailed through the night - I did a stint just before dark on Saturday - 6 - 8pm and was rostered to do 3-5am on Sunday. In the event I sailed the second of my shifts from 9 - 11.20am or so - there were arguments and disputes in the night - trying to get the balance right between fast sailing and giving everyone a fair crack.

Technique is all important and really smooth boat handing pays enormous dividends. I am glad to say that with my super crew Paul Bassett we held our own - managed to overtake some boats and but lost a few places when it got really light. Alan Beaney was definitely our fastest helm, but I flew the flag in style for the SGSC contingent. Our LCSC boat came in 24th at the end of the 24 hours, having at best been 19th. We started in the 30 - 40 (i.e. fourth group and 12 minutes behind the first starters) having entry number 38, so we did pretty well. The leading two boats were both from the host club, West Lancs Yacht Club, and there was only a minute or so between them by the end of 24 hours - one an Ent and the other a GP14.

It's a great event - very well organised. It needs at least 12 people I think, though some teams were fewer - but concentrating hard under that pressure and throughout the hours of darkness takes energy and stamina - and I was definitely sailing less well towards the end of each stint than earlier, even though I have been sailing longer races this year to get into training.

The event can be read about on the WLYC website
(Ed: There's also a general account of the race on the Corinthians website. Look for 18 Sep in the scrolling list of news items on the left, and click on: Southport 24 Hour write up & photos)

If you are interested in doing the event, it would be worth considering combining with LCSC and maybe then entering 2 teams. Competition is hot, and the fastest boats were very new and shiny - boat speed as well as handling counts for lots.

Oh and I didn't mention that it's one long party did I!! - bar and food available non-stop from Friday afternoon through to 2pm Sunday!! with disco, fairground rides next door and convivial company.

Grant granted!

Excellent news - Awards for All - part of the National Lottery fund - has accepted our application for a grant to buy a "new" (second hand) safety boat and engine. The old boat leaked water into the foam core which made it very heavy, and so too slow and unresponsive for safety. We are very grateful to Awards for All. The new safety boat and engine are now in use.
.

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Corinthians visit July 8/9th 2006

A very windy weekend for our visit to London Corinthians Sailing Club this year. On Saturday the race was abandoned due to confusion about buoy rounding directions. On Sunday (Strand sailing contingent: James Armitage with Ian Nethersall; Henry and Mary Brown; Joseph Armitage; Paul Williamson. Tony Smith and Chris Greenwood in the safety boat. John Bull also offering support.) it was again very windy/gusty (F5) and there was some trepidation. Sure enough the Browns capsized at the first mark and decided to call it a day. There were two races - the first was won by an LCSC laser with Paul W 2nd and James and Ian 3rd. The second race was won by Joseph, 2nd an LCSC laser, 3rd Veloce - LCSC Ent, and 4th James and Ian. Much spectacular capsizing and a generally entertaining weekend. Many thanks to LCSC for their hospitality.

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