London Mid-Week Series 2008

Race	Date	Start	High Water	Tide height, Metres
Mid-Week race 1	6 Tuesday April	18.45	20.15	5.98
Mid-Week race 2	21 Wednesday April	18.45	19.52	6.03
Mid-Week race 3	6 Thursday May	19.00	20.39	6.63
Mid-Week race 4	21 Friday May	19.15	20.58	6.16
Mid-Week race 5	4 Friday June	18.45	20.03	6.05
Mid-Week race 6	18 Friday June	18.45	19.44	6.62
Mid-Week race 7	5 Monday July	19.15	20.55	5.86
Mid-Week race 8	19 Monday July	19.15	21.06	6.53
Mid-Week race 9	4 Wednesday Aug	19.15	21.03	5.80
Mid-Week race 10	17 Tuesday Aug	19.00	20.36	6.46

Results 2009

Sail No	HELM	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Race 7	Race 8	Race 9	Total
S3683	M Gifford	2	2	1	50	50	50	1	50	3	9
Laser/solo	C Edwards	3	1	3	6	50	3	50	50	1	11
M3073	C Whitehouse	50	50	2	8	2	50	4	1	2	11
Laser	J Driver	50	4	10	5	5	50	5	3	11	22
M3288	F Gifford	1	11	50	1	7	50	50	2	50	22
L193184	T Stolper	6	50	5	3	4	6	50	50	10	24
L4	C Gould	12	7	6	11	11	19	12	50	4	39
Laser	D Evans	50	50	29	4	3	2	3	50	50	41
E20588	A Munro Faure	11	8	11	13	8	50	50	4	17	42
L14707	Ade Bustos	15	3	9	50	50	9	11	50	50	47
L5	L Kolff	9	50	29	14	12	8	7	50	50	50
M3500	M Wollny	7	16	13	18	28	19	9	50	9	54
LR128848	S Bennett	24	13	22	32	28	50	15	7	13	70
L108826	D Henderson	14	50	18	22	50	19	16	6	50	73
L83583	N Edwards	5	50	8	7	50	50	6	50	50	76
S3150	R Nelson	50	19	23	16	13	50	50	5	50	76
L	S Edwards	50	50	4	12	6	50	50	50	5	77
Laser	M Shenk	50	50	7	50	50	7	8	50	7	79
L3	J Reed	8	6	50	50	50	19	2	50	50	85
LR5409	R Hildago	16	50	15	21	28	50	17	50	50	97
Lark	A Britten	50	50	50	20	28	19	13	50	17	97
Firefly	J McEwen	50	50	50	2	1	1	50	50	50	104
L1	P Coward	12	14	17	17	50	50	50	50	50	110
Laser	P Shucksmith	50	50	50	19	10	19	50	15	50	113
Laser	C Vanlerberghe	50	50	50	23	28	50	50	8	12	121
N12	T Hayhoe	50	50	50	9	9	19	50	50	50	137
Ent	J Kahn	50	19	50	32	28	50	23	50	50	152
L171760	R Jarvis	50	12	50	50	28	50	18	50	50	158
M3073	N Price	3	9	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	162
Solo	J Mackay	50	50	50	50	50	50	10	50	6	166
LR147087	J Browning	17	5	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	172
Laser/Solo	G Marshall	50	50	14	32	28	50	50	50	50	174
Solo	A Hobbs	50	50	50	50	50	4	23	50	50	177
M 1993	N Barnet	10	50	50	50	50	19	50	50	50	179
Laser	J Phare	50	10	21	50	50	50	50	50	50	181
Merlin/Solo	A Boustra	50	50	29	25	28	50	50	50	50	182
Laser	G Brougham	50	50	50	50	50	50	23	9	50	182
S356	D Knight	18	50	16	50	50	50	50	50	50	184
L115503	J Houghton	50	50	50	50	28	50	50	50	8	186
Laser	S North	50	50	50	10	28	50	50	50	50	188
L13631	R Tolkien	24	50	50	15	50	50	50	50	50	189
L	S Arbuthnot	50	50	50	50	50	5	50	50	50	205
S683	D Howard	24	50	50	32	50	50	50	50	50	206
Laser	D Homes	50	50	12	50	50	50	50	50	50	212
Laser	A Murdoch	50	50	50	50	50	50	14	50	50	214
Laser	Maciek	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	15	50	215
Laser	A Galbraith	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	15	50	215
Solo	D Long	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	15	50	215
Laser	G D'Amico	50	50	19	50	50	50	50	50	50	219
	T Weinburge	50	50	20	50	50	50	50	50	50	220
L2	M Ampleford	24	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	50	224
Merlin	B Harrison	50	50	50	24	50	50	50	50	50	224
L141370	D Sutcliffe	50	50	50	50	28	50	50	50	50	228
Solo	M Tadeusz	50	50	50	50	28	50	50	50	50	228
Solo	A Harris	50	50	29	50	50	50	50	50	50	229
Solo	P James	50	50	50	32	50	50	50	50	50	232

London Mid-Week Series Race 5 - 30/6/2009

A few seconds after the start, Martin and Paula Wollny had just decided that the wind was too light and shifty for the spinny when their Merlin suddenly went on a mad plane. Most delighted by this new experience but intrigued nevertheless, the Merlin crew started to enquire the reasons for the unexpected additional boat speed. After discarding a vertical gust from the Fulham Stadium and a tidal wave, further inspection revealed additional propulsion from a rowing eight who had poked his bow through the Wollny's transom flap. That obviously was bad news. Firstly, paddling after the start would lead to disqualification, secondly there is no PY handicap for a Merlin with a crew of 11 (including an incapable cox), and finally short tacking against the tide would likely become more difficult with a hull that had more than trebled in length. But getting rid off the extra propulsion turned out to be a major problem. Despite much pushing and shouting the rowing boat remained tightly stuck in the Merlin's transom flap and in the end there was no other choice but call in the safety boat to help tow ashore the unusual looking and slowly sinking craft.

After this entertaining start, the race continued with other challenges. On the way back from the Mile Post to Putney, short tacking in light conditions with 180 degree wind shifts and against the tide led to the occasional expression of frustration. And a recent sewerage overrun made conditions even tougher: A perfectly executed roll-tack around a floating dead rat was THE opportunity to prove just how much the 26 competitors loved dinghy sailing on the river! On the positive side the disgust of cleaning the rudder from plastic bags and other floating niceties was immediately rewarded with a significant gain in boat speed....

The fleet quickly spread out with Chris Whitehouse leading in his Lark after one lap, followed by David Evans and Joe Driver on Lasers. In the second lap the Stolpers had moved their Merlin into third place, having found more wind further out in river. In the final stages of the race Chris Whitehouse briefly lost the lead but quickly recovered to to cross the line in first place.

6 minutes after the leading boat, Jamie McEwen crossed the line in 5th place in his Firefly, enough to win the race on handicap ahead of Chris Whitehouse in his Lark. David Evans was third over the line and on handicap, pushing the Stolpers back to fourth on corrected time. After battling for most of the race in their Lasers the fight for 5th was finally won by Joe Driver finishing only 6 seconds ahead of Sarah Edwards.

Race 1 Photos

Prestart Winners Fran Gifford/Susannah Leeward mark lap 1 Start of lap 2 Lap1

Michael John Gifford in his Solo Plum, who has an unassailable lead in the series after 6 races with 4 wins

London Midweek Series 2008 – Race 7 – 8^th Aug 2008 – Final Race of 2008 Series

The 7^th and final race of the 2008 open midweek evening series saw 16 Merlins, Solos and Lasers greeted by light NNW winds at Putney. With an upriver start towards Fulham football ground the Merlins of Fran Gifford and then Andy Harris rounded the windward mark just ahead of the lasers of Nigel Edwards and Phil Plumtree. The next leg required intense concentration to beat a strong tide on the leg back towards Putney Bridge. Fran’s took her Merlin ahead up the Fulham side while Andy Harris headed over to the Putney side of the river in second. Nigel and Phil in their lasers were then joined by Dave and Charlotte Evans in a Merlin for a neck-and-neck battle for the 45 minutes it took to reach and beat to second mark during which those leading 5 pulled out a considerable lead over the rest of the fleet including series leader Michael Gifford. The top 5 maintained their positions and grew their lead through the second lap, eventually followed home by the rest of the fleet as dusk fell and the lure of beer, pizza and prize-giving enticed them back through the finishing line at Ranelagh. The race left the overall series result unchanged with a well-deserved victory for Michael John Gifford (Solo), Chris Whitehouse (Merlin) in second, Dan Watson (Merlin/Laser/Lark) third, Fran Gifford fourth and Dave Evans and Nigel Edwards tied for 5^th place. Prizes were presented to the series and class winners and by the end of another great social evening in the bar at Ranelagh most competitors were splendidly adorned with their 2008 LMS Series T-shirts. Additional helms have already indicated their intention to participate in 2009 when Ranelagh will play host to more than the 30 or so crews who’ve enjoyed this inaugural open summer evening series of competitive racing on the Thames.

1^st        Fran Gifford
2^nd      Andy Harris
3^rd        Nigel Edwards
4^th        Phil Plumtree
5^th        David Evans

London Mid-week Series 2008, Race 6, held at Ranelagh Sailing Club, Putney, 9^th July.

The lure of Race 6 of the open London Mid-Week Series was enough to tempt a competitive fleet out even on a grey and rainy evening on the Thames at Putney. The 12mph south westerly saw the fleet reaching and running down to Crabtree and beating back up to Putney. The stronger gusts meant controlled planning and surfing the waves (yes, even on the Thames!) from the passing party boats so big gaps were opened out and closed up again with plenty of place changing.

Chris Edwards (Laser) and Dan Watson (Lark) battled it out for first place with Chris sailing fast and getting clean away on lap 2 when Dan’s close racing tactics were distracted by spinnaker work. Dan has now sailed Merlins, Solos and Larks in this series and is lying 3^rd overall behind Michael Gifford and Chris Whitehouse.

Meanwhile intense competition and place changing amongst the following laser fleet eventually saw David Evans get away from Phil Plumtree and Nigel Edwards, with Thomas Stolper finally working through Jason Merron, just beaten by Chris Gould’s Solo on handicap, and then Richard Jarvis.

The final race of the 2008 evening open series takes place on August 8^th. Nigel Edwards

While many thought that the big sporting event of last Thursday was Spain vs. Russia in Euro 2008, the thousands of people lining the bank of the Thames knew that the real action was taking place on the Thames at Putney (thousands is a slight exaggeration, it was two joggers and a dog-walker).

The 5^th race of the London Evening Series took place in beautiful sunshine a strong current and a solid South-Westerly (occasionally switching to North-East). Thirteen starters vied for position on a reaching start down towards Hammersmith. As the fleet got away it was clearly a case of catching as many of the gusts as possible round the back of Fulham football club. Chris Whitehouse and Dan Watson in their modern Merlin broke clear of the bunch the chase being led by Frances Gifford and Ian Armstrong in their Merlin of a more mature vintage.

The upwind leg became a game of snakes and ladders depending on whether you went for the wind in the middle of the river or tried to get out of the stream on the bank. Gifford and Armstrong played this to perfection to break through Whitehouse and Watson. Behind them the pack was led by the Laser of Jeremy Reed closely followed by his classmates Dave Evans and Phil Plumtree. Event leader Michael John Gifford in his Solo was also starting to get up to speed and picked his way through the fleet to finish the first lap 5^th on the water.

The next lap had no change at the front with Gifford and Armstrong extending their lead. Behind the Merlins, Dave Evans led the chase and Michael John broke away from Reed and Plumtree to move into 4^th. On the final lap, the Merlins were desperately trying top put enough time between them and the Solo for victory. The vagaries of the venue came into their own however with Michael John managing to plane on a beam reach for half the leg that his sister had plugged up on a beat. This took him past Evans’ Laser and gave him the handicap win and with it the series.

Celebrations in the clubhouse were not quite as dramatic as those of the Spanish goalscorers and could only just be heard over the muttering about the Solo handicap. All was forgotten though as the pizza arrived and the beer started to flow.

For the forth race in the Ranelagh mid week series the pressure was on to stop Michael John Gifford from securing the trophy and a prize from local chandlers Chas Newens, a tad early, having already won all 3 previous races in the series. Sailors couldn’t have asked for more, it was a lovely warm evening with a decent and relatively steady wind.

21 boats took to the water for the 7.30pm start, the fleet getting away clean. It was Chris Whitehouse and Ellie Bremer who took lead, in the Merlin Rocket “Boing” Went Zebedee, up the first beat. Behind them the Solos and Lasers battled it out, once again Michael John took the lead of the Solos rounding in 3rd, with Sarah Edwards rounding 4^th in a Laser. Liam Dempsey was the next Solo round, sporting his rather flattering cycling lycra, with club Commodore Nick Price hot on his heels. Phil Plumtree followed Sarah round in the Lasers with Eric Bystrom rounding 3^rd in that class.

By the second lap Nick had overtaken Liam in the Solos, and Michael John was increasing his lead. In the Lasers Eric Bystrom had got past Phil Plumtree, only to retire, leaving Phil second in this class and Christopher Edwards in 3^rd, having worked his way up the fleet well.

This order remained until the finish, on the 3^rd lap, with Chris and Ellie having pulled out a significant distance on the fleet, it was time to wait for results to be calculated before knowing whether they had beaten the seemingly unstoppable Michael John who finished 4^th on the water behind Sarah and David Evans/Jeremy Reed in a vintage Merlin.

Having been fed and watered, the adjusted race results were announced to an expectant audience. Sarah Edwards finished third, while Michael John’s string of firsts was finally broken as he finished in second and Chris and Ellie won.

The race is now on, with 3 races remaining and 3 points separating them Chris and Michael John have it all to play for, but one slip up from Chris and he could give the series away. The next race is on 26^th of June, 6.30 start.

1^st Merlin Rocket 3504 Chris Whitehouse/Ellie Bremer
2^nd Solo 3683 Michael john Gifford
3^rd Laser 174956 Sarah Edwards
4^th Solo 3508 Nick Price
5^th Solo 356 Liam Dempsey

For the third instalment of the London Mid-Week Series, held at Ranelagh SC, 19 boats launched into a blustery southerly wind with overcast skies. Christopher Edwards and Meg Ferrugia, sailing Merlin Rocket 3288- ‘Atlantis’, made the best, of the tricky down wind, down tide start set by PRO John Stokes, and led the fleet up river towards Hammersmith Bridge.
However, by the first turning mark, Chris Whitehouse and Dan Watson, sailing Merlin 3504 – ‘Boing! Went Zebedee’, had crept through on the inside, making the most of the gusts alongside Craven Cottage, to lead the fleet back up towards Putney Bridge.
With the gusts slowly building in strength, things started getting a little more ‘exciting’. The first to take a dip were Fran Gifford and Andy Dalby, sailing Joker - a classic Proctor IXb Merlin Rocket. They soon uncovered the perils of capsizing an early MR, as they were seen furiously bailing back down-wind with barely an inch of freeboard….
Jason Merron, sailing Solo 627 – Waldo, was the next to go, with a spectacular, nose dive/pitch pole/broach combo resulting in a slightly oddly shaped mast. Commiserations must also go to Jeremy Read, sailing Laser 1010 – ‘Heartbreaker’, who’s boat lived up to its moniker. When, sailing up the final beat, nicely positioned in third place, his mast snapped.
Meanwhile, the series leader, Michael-John’ Gifford, sailing Solo 3683 – ‘Plum’, had been serenely working his way through the carnage around him to chase down team Zebedee, the breakaway leaders. The race was on…
On the water, ‘Boing! Went Zebedee’ had a huge lead and by the finish and Chris and Dan were certain victory would be theirs. But no. Once again the mighty Michael-John Gifford had worked his magic to win on handicap.
Can anyone stop Michael-John? With three bullets, he’s looking very comfortable at the top of the London Mid-Week Series Leader board.
After a good sail the crews retired to the bar, for the now customary, pizza and beer. This week’s festivities were complimented with a little singing to wish Liam Dempsey a Happy Birthday.
The next instalment of the London Mid Week Series will be on held on Wednesday 11^th June. Book early to avoid disappointment!

1st Michael Gifford Solo 3683
2nd Chris Whitehouse/ Dan Watson Merlin 3504
3rd Tom Hayhoe (solo) N12 3433
4th David Evans Laser 56202
5th Liam Dempsey Laser 92171

The second race of the London mid-week series took place in glorious evening sunshine on the Thames at Putney. Shorts and T-shirts were the clothing of choice as 16 boats lined up for the start at Ranelagh Sailing Club.
A rare upstream, upwind start made for a very densely packed line as the fleet jostled for position to start the short-tacking duel that was the first leg. Amazingly no collisions occurred and the fleet got away led by Chris Whitehouse and Dan Watson in a modern Merlin. They were closely followed by a Merlin of a very different vintage helmed by Fran Gifford and crewed by Merlin chairman Alex Jackson. The two Merlins, although out in front, were only fractionally ahead of the pack of Lasers and Solos (and one Enterprise). Leading the gaggle was Fran’s brother Michael John in his Solo.
On the first lap these front three boats managed to break away as the challenging conditions that Putney presents meant that the runs became beats and then changed into reaches all with no obvious rhyme or reason.
At Ranelagh, you are only as good as your last gust and the race is far from over until the bell goes. With this in mind, old-stager Chris Edwards crewed by Meg Farrugia in a Merlin put in a burst on the second lap to overtake Michael John’s Solo and start to close the gap on the leaders. Behind the leading four, the Lasers were having some close racing with Nigel Edwards tussling with newcomers Jamie McEwan and David Evans for the class lead.
During the final lap, Fran and Alex showed that it isn’t all about the boat and sneaked past Chris and Dan. Although the lead changed hands a number of times and all the while Chris and Meg were closing, the three Merlins finished with Fran and Alex taking the bell (no bullets allowed in the centre of the capital) from Chris and Dan with Chris and Meg left to rue their time spent fighting through the pack early in the race.
Behind the Merlins, Nigel managed to get close to Michael John, but never quite enough to worry him. Despite Fran’s assertion that it is all about who wins on the water she was pushed into second place when the handicaps were worked out with Michael John in his Solo doing just enough to beat his sister.
Yet again Ranelagh and the Thames showed that the best racing can take place in the most unlikely places and for an evening out in London the racing in Putney is about as good as it gets.

Race 1 London Mid-Week Series – Rainbows over Putney
The 2008 London mid-week series got off to a fine start on Monday 28^th with a mixed fleet of 11 boats taking to the water at Ranelagh in the first of the 7 race series. 2 Merlin Rockets, 2 Solos & 7 Lasers all got away at the bell and by the time the fleet reached Craven Cottage the 2 Merlins had established a slender lead from the Lasers of Christopher Edwards & Andy Harris and the Solo of Michael John Gifford who was to prove a thorn in the Merlins side all night. By the first mark, a mile up river, but down stream from the start, Chris Whitehouse/Andy Watson rounded first approaching close hauled and set their spinnaker as they rounded. A minute later they found themselves close hauled again as the wind shifted and the return to Putney was a beat or close fetch with the occasional tack to get some room. The fleet was pretty well strung out as they clawed their way past Craven Cottage but it had closed up again in front of the Club with Fran Gifford/Andy Dalby taking the lead briefly as well as the Solo of Gifford. These three were followed by Nigel Edwards, Christopher Edwards, Richard Tolkien, Andy Harris and Phil Plumtree in their Lasers just ahead of Liam Dempsey having his first ever sail in a Solo. The second lap became a run in a rain squall before arriving at the Crabtree mark in sunshine which wasn’t to last. The two Merlins were still ahead followed by Gifford’s Solo and Nigel Edward’s and Phil Plumtree’s Lasers. Richard Tolkien and Andy Harris were next, then Christopher Edwards and Thomas Stolper who was sailing his new Laser for only the second time, just ahead of Liam Dempsey. These were all still within 3 minutes of the leader after nearly an hour of racing. A rainbow appeared as the boats battled the, fortunately weak, tide and the two Merlins pulled out a more respectable gap from the Solo and Nigel Edwards in the leading Laser. Would it be enough? The answer was no. With 6 races remaining in this competitive series more sailors are welcome to join, best 4 results to count. After sailing, beer and Pizzas were enjoyed by competitors in Ranelagh’s fine old Club House. See Ranelagh’s web page for details of how to join the series.