AQSC Regatta and Greek Evening

28-29 June - AQSC Regatta and Greek Evening

Friday the 27th and a small bunch of 'volunteers' turned up early evening to get the place ready for the weekend. There was Greek food to prep, the quarterdeck to be tented over and a hundred and one other things to ensure the weekend went without a hitch.

On Saturday the first race got underway at 11:30. A gusty wind was blowing straight down the river. The Race Officer set upstream and downstream marks with a dog leg between them. In fact this course was used for the whole of the weekend, or maybe the OOD just couldn't be bothered to change it.

Ten boats started the first race. Charles managed an early capsize and a couple retired for various reasons. Richard Cannon won on PH and Charles Dennis won on BH. I had to leave early afternoon so I missed the two afternoon races (results on the website) and the Greek Evening. I understand the evening was a great success, everybody I spoke to the next day raved about the food, well done Rodger and all the ladies that helped prep it all on Friday night.

The weather on Sunday was a little less gusty but still provided some lively sailing for the two races. Richard won both on PH and BH. Towards the end of the afternoon Nigel held his annual 'fun event'. He released a number of wooden geese upstream and every dinghy raced upstream to collect as many as possible; crazy really but a lot of fun.

Next a pair of Lasers raced from the bank around the outer distance mark and back. Each time they collected another crew until each had something like half a dozen people on board. Eventually most transferred onto one Laser. It sailed with something like ten up with the whole hull submerged.

The regatta tea was outstanding with a huge variety of sarnies, cakes and, of course, strawberries and cream. Again thanks to Diana and the ladies for the prep and to Joan and George for picking all the strawberries on Saturday.

Altogether a good weekend with the best sailing conditions we've had this year. Thanks, on behalf of the club, to everybody involved with its organisation, good job guys!

Mike (Over Easy) Baker