Being the school half-term and light winds forecast, it was certain that there would be some very small people running about, most of whom managed to get afloat in one capacity or another. As in previous years, we are grateful to David & Rosemary Harrop who ran the racing which followed the usual Olympic style for the courses. This event saw the first time for the 'Rooster 8.1' sails to be used in anger in a police regatta. For those unacquainted with the sail - it has been manufactured to fit the Laser and should suit those helms who weigh over 90 kgs. In theory, it should also be suitable for light-winds sailing. In strong winds you could be spending some time in the water... The rating is currently set at 1051; just behind the Phantoms. Entries numbered 10; only just better than last year and only 3 were from other forces.

By 11am, the wind was just starting to fill in - but not a lot. In the light wind, the Race Officer waited for all boats to be present around the start line before commencing the countdown for Race One. Boats got away well enough with the exception of Rob Jones in the RS 700 whilst Andy Taverner let the fleet to the first mark closely followed by Graham Cook in his standard rig Laser. In the light winds, not many laps were going to be sailed and Phil Chambers with mini-crew Oliver Jenkins (Enterprise) also Frances Gifford & Pete Walker (National 12) kept well up in the fleet throughout the race. On the final leg the wind picked up from behind and Jones blasted downwind to cross the line first on elapsed time with Graham Cook some 30 seconds behind. Shortly after came the Enterprise and National 12 who thus finished 1st & 2nd respectively on corrected time. Stuart Jenkins with young Imogen Jenkins struggled to get the Laser Stratos going in such light conditions whilst Roger Glass also in a standard Laser found himself 'out of time'.

Race Two faced almost similar conditions. This time Taverner with the Rooster sail crept ahead from the start and managed to stay in front for the duration of the race. The fitful wind made for changes in positions on the water but Cook managed to get clear of the pack as did Ken Daniels in his Phantom. On corrected time, Gifford in the National 12 managed to beat Chambers in the Enterprise by less than 30 seconds to take first place with Cook also equal second place.

Race Three and the wind perked up for the start and veering slightly, made the first beat virtually a single tack leg. Conditions were perfect for the Phantom of Andy Carter (West Midlands) to forge ahead on the first beat, keeping his position until the end of the race - just. The wind direction changed throughout the race as light gusts came and went on the beats providing the opportunity to change some boats' positions noticeably. With 1st and 2nd positions having been shared between the Enterprise and the National 12 in the first two races, the overall winner would be decided between these two boats. By the end of the race, the first 7 boats on the water had bunched up and all crossed the line within 46 seconds, confronting the race recorder with getting times down in close order. With such a close finish, Chambers in the Enterprise was a clear winner on corrected time by 37 seconds over Gifford with Cook just a further 3 seconds behind and Carter in the Phantom recording his best result of the day, fourth.

Congratulations to Phil Chambers who won all three trophies - First overall, First Met boat & First Retired officer!

© R.S.

The Annual Sailing Dinghy Regatta of the Metropolitan Police Sailing Club was held at Datchet Water Sailing Club, Queen Mother Reservoir.

This year the event caught Easter Week and, with the temperature being so equable, the wind temperate and the reservoir brim-full, one would have expected a much larger turnout. As it was, nine boats took part which included just two from other Forces. At least the conditions were kinder than last year when just one race with four finishers out of 12 boats was the sum total of the day's sailing.

There was a comfortable breeze for the start of Race One and the fleet got away with minimal fuss. The course was the usual 'triangle - sausage'. As boats gathered towards the first mark, the RS 200 sailed by Graham & William Cook, rounded first closely followed by Lasers Andy Taverner and Dick  Sivers. With a light steady wind and a lightweight crew the Cooks gradually stretched out a healthy lead whilst behind them the two Lasers became almost tied together as first one and then the other, got ahead by a few boat-lengths. Behind them on the water, Phil Chambers, with another lightweight crew (James Cook) battled it out with another Laser (Roger Glass) and an OK helmed by Pete Walker who, being caught by sudden wind-luff found himself immersed in the water. Only just behind stalked Ian Ingram, well up in a Solo.

As the race became a procession, the course was shortened and rounding the last mark the two leading Lasers, still within a boat's length of each other, began a tacking duel during which Taverner missed his toestrap and also took to the reservoir, but still recovered to gain a fourth place. Race result on corrected time - 1st: Cook, 2nd: Ingram, 3rd: Sivers.

After lunch, Races Two & Three were held back-to-back. Race Two started with the Solo being flagged over the line and obliged to return and re-start. Conditions had become lighter after the start and holes in the wind began to appear: this made the first beat extremely tricky. Walker, sailing up the right-hand side of the beat found himself well up but it was Cook who once more rounded the top mark in the lead. The fleet concertina'd as the light wind blew then failed. The odd twists in the wind was also started to increase. The light conditions suited the two Enterprises of Chambers and Jenkins; both using their lightweight crews to good purpose. Caught by the wind while balancing his Laser on a broad reach, Taverner found himself standing on the hull. But this was no race for Lasers and it made little difference to the final results which found Graham Cook again the winner with Ingram again second but this time Walker a splendid third, just beating Chambers by 3 seconds on corrected time.

 Race Three and the weather was becoming hazy with even less wind. It became a matter of looking over your shoulder to see which direction the next puff of wind on the water was coming from. After a ragged start with some boats a little late in crossing the start line, the fleet rounded the top mark to be confronted with little or no wind. Again the RS 200 got ahead with Taverner close behind. The rest of the fleet hung together for most of the race. Eventually, The Cooks won on the water by well over two minutes from Taverner also well ahead of the rest. Behind them, Sivers, Walker and Chambers battled together to cross the line. The main fleet finished close together giving the Solo third place on corrected time.

Despite the lack of numbers it had been an excellent days sailing and the mini-crews of William Cook, James Cook and Oliver Jenkins played their part. 'The boys done good'. The Datchet Water SC personnel; David & Rosemary Harrop with Mike Rogers on Rescue, once again provided a very enjoyable event. The Met Police Open Dinghy Regatta has established itself at the start of the Police Sailing year and given such weather, is a great start to the season.

 
The Annual Sailing Dinghy Regatta of the Metropolitan Police Sailing Section was held at Datchet Water Sailing Club, Queen Mother Reservoir.

The event is open to any Serving or Retired Police Officer and Police Support Staff Employees, helming mono-hulled dinghies with a recognised Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap.

The weather was sunny with very little wind. It was very noticeable that the water level of the reservoir was well below normal, which made launching and retrieving the boats quite an effort, because of the steepness of the concrete walls.

On arrival and throughout the day the flags outside the clubhouse were fluttering well, but this did not reflect the amount of wind actually blowing over the surface of the water deep down in the bowl of the reservoir. This caused delayed starts and frustration to sailors when the wind died or kept coming in from different directions.

The total entry was 12 dinghies, from four different forces (Avon & Somerset, Metropolitan, Northamptonshire and West Midlands). Four of those boats were manned by veterans (5 pensioners in all – Clive Bishop, Philip Chambers, Len Gooch, Dick Sivers and Dave Thomson).

Due to the lack of wind Race 1 did not get started until 1155, and then only lasted for one triangular lap. That took the first boat nearly 34 minutes to complete. It was 61 minutes before the last boat crossed the finish line. That first boat was the West Midlands RS400 sailed by Ian Ingram and Phil McMullen. It finished 2.75 minutes ahead of the second boat – the Met Laser sailed by Andy Taverner. Just 9 seconds later Graham Cook and Pip Kent crossed the line in their speedy little Graduate. It was the Graduate that won this race quite convincingly on handicap. Fourth to finish was Met veteran Phil Chambers and his young crew, Lorna Dixon, in their Enterprise. On handicap, they came second.

Race 2 started at 1430 and was another drifter, with the race officer putting an end to the misery after 32 minutes. He then had to wait a further 39 minutes for the last boat to finish, before he could start race 3. The first boat to finish was the West Midlands RS400. That was followed 3 minutes later by the Met Enterprise. Only 27 seconds later the Met Graduate crossed the line. The Graduate won this race on handicap too, with the Enterprise second. The fourth boat to finish was a Laser sailed by Met veteran, Dave Thomson.

The race officer did ask Garry Walters whether he wanted a third race. The answer was , "Yes, but could the finish be nearer the clubhouse?" So the course for race 3 was a dog-leg, starting at the western end of the water, but finishing at the eastern end, right outside the clubhouse. The start signal went at 1558 and the first boat – the West Midland RS400, sailed by Ian Ingram - crossed the line at 1628. Second was Andy Taverner in his Laser (16 seconds behind the leader). Third was the Chamber/Dixon Enterprise. It was they that won this race on handicap, with Andy Taverner second. The RS400 ended up down in 8^th place.

So the overall winner was the Graduate of Graham Cook with his crew Pip Kent who last sailed in anger over 20 years ago. Second was the Enterprise of Phil Chambers with Lorna Dixon, one of his early protégées from Hampton S.C. Third was the Taverner Laser. Philip Chambers also won the Met Veteran's Trophy.

L.G. 

The last regatta of the Police Sailing calendar duly took place at Queen Mother Reservoir. The sound of approaching passenger 'planes overhead was somehow reassuring after last year's terrible day. The regatta heralded the last days of summer  -  warm, bright with a wind that varied throughout the day from Force ½ to 2. Numbers attending the event were disappointing when in previous years, not so long ago, the event had seen over 20 taking part.

The start time was delayed, hoping for more boats also for repairs to the Sussex Laser 2000 who had discovered their jib halyard stuck in the mast. The Race Officer, Peter Short assisted by Tom Davies set simple, clockwise, triangular courses which presented a good beat, a broad reach and a fine reach though the wind direction did vary slightly throughout the day. In fact it was possible to find different angles 50 yards apart. This made decisions taken on the beats very important.

Queen Mother Reservoir

In the first race, boats approaching the top mark on port, were rewarded with a lift which looked set to decide the result early on. However, after 4 good laps in winds that suited the Lasers, Graham Cook took the line honours with Alistair Glen second and Andy Taverner third, both following closely behind.

By Race Two, the fleet was down to just 6 boats. The wind was lighter and the course was made 2 laps. The start found the wind very light and Graham Cook got to the top mark first, closely followed by Dick Sivers and Alistair Glen. The light wind gave little opportunity for the Lasers to plane and the Albacore of Len Gooch and Clive Bishop finished strongly. In a 50-odd minute race, Graham Cook won by almost 2 minutes.

Race Three, sailed back to back with Race Two, had the wind becoming even more light and variable. This time the OAP’s Albacore made a better start and managed to keep ahead of the fleet for one and a half laps with the Lasers of Cook and Glen snapping at their heels. Inevitably it was Cook that crept to the front on the downwind leg, and Glen joined him on the following reaching leg. With a failing wind the race was shortened but conditions made even one lap a matter of some chance. On the final beat it was the Albacore that made the best use of the wind changes and crossed the finish line ahead of Glen, but only just. Phil Mears & Alan Costello in the Laser 2000 found their boat going much better in the conditions and finished much closer to the rest of the fleet. Also at the back of the fleet, from a poor start  Dick Sivers had caught up with Stuart Jenkins to fight out the beat to the finish line. Although rounding the leeward mark in close proximity, the wind direction varied enough for Sivers to get over the line before Jenkins by just a few seconds. Meanwhile Cook had again taken line honours finding that a few small purchases made at the club's Dinghy Store chandlery had done no harm to his excellent performance.

The day had been fought closely enough, both at the front and at the back, so an enjoyable day was had by all. Anticipating higher numbers, prizes were presented to the top five places. Despite the numbers, Datchet Water Sailing Club made us thoroughly welcome and I am grateful to Helen Manners who also provided Rescue, for taking pictures of the event.

See below for pictures of the event.

R.S.

The early arrivals at this year’s Metropolitan Police Sailing Club Regatta at Datchet were met by locked gates, and must have wondered whether they had come on the right day. But all was well, and a young lady turned up at 0855 to unlock the gate and let them in.

There were 12 dinghies entered for this open meeting, representing 6 different forces – Avon & Somerset, Gwent, Metropolitan, Northamptonshire, Sussex and West Midlands. The oldest helm sailing was Dick Sivers from N’hants, who is only a year away from collecting his state pension. You would not think so to see him sailing his Laser. Three races were held on Olympic type courses, with committee boat starts and finishes. Races 2 and 3 were held back-to-back. The weather was cloudy with a cold wind blowing mainly between force 2 and 3.

Straight from the start of race 1, Rob Jones streaked into the lead in his RS600 single-hander. He was followed by Richard Mansfield in his new Fireball- Something for the Weekend. Then it was Ian Ingram in his RS400. These three soon pulled out a big lead over the rest of the fleet. But the flying RS600 was in a class of its own, and there was no catching it. At the end of the first ‘triangle’ Jones had a lead of over 2 minutes over everyone else. The West Midland RS400 managed to overtake the Fireball. John Oldham, crewed by Graham Cook, was sailing the club Comet Trio well enough to stay ahead of the RS400 of Paul Miller, but could not quite catch Brian Wood in his Laser. After almost 64 minutes of racing the RS600 streaked over the finish to take line honours 4 minutes and 34 seconds ahead of the Ingram RS400. The Mansfield Fireball crossed the line 2 minutes 13 seconds later. In a race that lasted nearly an hour and a half, there was then a long, long gap of 8 minutes 10 seconds before the next boat finished – the Laser of Brian Wood from Gwent.

In race 2. Rob Jones was unable to repeat his runaway victory of the previous race, and he was seen lagging behind several other boats. It transpired that he had damaged his tiller-extension, and he eventually retired to the clubhouse to fix it. So it was left to the Ingram RS400 and the Fireball to fight it out at the head of the fleet. They swapped places several times during the race, but it was the West Midland boat that took line honours 1 minute 15 seconds ahead of the Met Fireball. The Met Comet Trio kept up a good pace all the way round, but was overtaken towards the end of the race by the Miller RS400. However, the Comet was the 3^rd boat to finish after an exciting last beat when it managed to beat higher than the RS400, and overtook it almost on the line, beating it by only 5 seconds. The 4-boat Laser fleet was led round the course by Dick Sivers, hotly pursued by Brian Wood. They crossed the finish line 41 seconds apart.

The race officer almost spoiled the start of race 3. by accidentally sitting on the button of the starting signal and sounding it about 30 seconds early. This so upset Brian Wood’s concentration that he collided with the committee boat, and so was the last boat to start. However, he sailed well and managed to reached the front of the Laser fleet before the finish. But it was the trapeze artistry of Rob Jones that was beautiful to watch. With his tiller-extension intact, he streaked again to the front of the fleet and flew around the course way ahead of everyone else. He completed the race in only 37 minutes and 28 seconds, and in that time he had pulled out an overall lead of 2 minutes 42 seconds. The Ingram RS 400 finished next, 32 seconds ahead of the Fireball. Some 6 minutes 52 seconds later the Met Comet Trio led the rest of the dinghies over the finish line. Oldham was 31 seconds ahead of  Wood in his Laser, who in turn was only 14 seconds ahead of Sivers. The Miller RS400 crossed the line some 1 minute 31 seconds later.