Date

Notes

17/03/19

Wind gusty 4-5 WSW. "challenging” – good Bosun sailing for two fit sailors but a bit of a handful for an old reprobate.Very variable from sun to cold squally rain/hail showers. Nigel had his 3rd sail of the year; Chryl and Keith went out in the patrol boat.

10/03/19

Fine but VERY WINDY day, 30-40 mph gusts, many white horses and large waves. Some trees blown down along Lower Sunbury Road.

03/03/19

Very windy, 40 mph, and wet day.

24/02/19

Another glorious day with a record breaking temperature of 20 degrees. Cloudless sky, No wind. No one sailed, Nigel worked on the outside lights. Jean Maracchi brought some cakes down for the 14 at the club.

17/02/19

A glorius warm day with a 10 mph S wind, 0.5 knt current. Bryan had a short sail and said the wind was terrible; all over the place. Stuart took Cheryl out in the patrol boat.

10/02/19

Light rain mid morning. 150mm of water over the downstream slip and 1.5 knt current. Squall and torrential rain mid afternoon; luckily it ws fine by the time we left.

03/02/19

Glorious but cold day, not mch wind, 0.5 knt current, no one to sail. only 7 at AQSC.

27/01/19

Windy and very wet at times.

20/01/19

A VERY cold, gorgeous day, no current or wind. Ten at AQSC, Bryan took Cheryl and Dudley out in the patrol boat for some training.

06/01/19

A cold overcast day. Dry but only 4mph NW wind, no current; no one wanted to sail. There were about 12 members at the club.

01/01/19

New Year's Day sailing had excellent conditions, with a consistent 5-12 mph NW wind and very little current. The course set was an up river beat to a port mark, then a down river run to a Middlesex side port mark with light winds due to the proximity of trees, a port mark near the outlet and a starboard Surrey side mark a little further down stream. The third race was dubbed a 'pudding race' by the two who started on time, as most others appeared to be delayed by Nigel's excellent pudding. 6 boats sailed, 20 members at the club.

02/12/18

A dry mild day with a 10-15 mph SW wind. Graham and Bryan were going to sail the Shipmate cruiser but it was too blustery to raise the sail easily. No one sailed. Nigel worked on the slipway to make it less slippery.

25/11/18

Variable NE to E, 5 to 15 mph wind. Graham sailed his Shipmate cruiser down to below Hampton SC with 3 crew. There were 15 at the club chatting. No one else sailed. Thanks to Jamie Wilson for volunteering for Patrol boat duty helping OOD Richard Cannon.

18/11/18

A Glorious day with a ENE force 1-2 gust 3, 8 to 18 mph, quite a good but demanding sail and by request short races, 2 laps 15-18 minutes. Jon Larsson capsized before the first start, and Graham Thompson only started in the first race and retired because he didn't want to get wet.

11/11/18

Main activities were clear up clubhouse after Annual Dinner and take Aquarius patrol boat out of water to fix leak; water leval was high after heavy night rain making it easier to do. No one sailed. Heavy rain in afternoon.

04/11/18

For the last scheduled race day this year it was a glorious warm day with a SSE wind 6 to 15 mph on the weather statation; but on the river it was very shifty and any direction force 0-1. It was nice to have 9 boats in the last race of the day; the most we have had this season.

28/10/18

Torrential rain first thing; fortunately it had just about stopped by the time boats were being rigged. A N to NE 1-2 gust 3 wind that was very variable shifty and patchy; it could be any direction.

27/10/18

A glorious day for thr work party although cold to keep them working hard to keep warm. All Nigel panned tasks were completed, probably the first time that has happened.

21/10/18

AQSC experienced a warm sunny day with cloudless skies and a steady gentle wind (0-1) from the west with little variability in direction and few complete lulls; a much better sail than expected. An upstream start led to a top port, followed by a starboard off the car park, a port just above Pat Halling's house and then a run to a port below the car park and near to the Surrey bank, The wind direction meant that the normal wind shadow caused by the trees to the south of the car park did not come into play on either the second mark or when beating up from the final port. In the fun event a competition to throw balls into the cockpits of competitors' boats gave some active practice in manoeuvring.

14/10/18

When the course was laid the wind was from the west, but by the time of the first start a weak easterly had set in, resulting in a run up to the first mark on a triangular starboard course, the second mark being close to the trees beside the car park and the third almost directly opposite. During most of the day the wind was a very variable northerly, so progress was slow from the second mark to the third. Heavy rain all day was forcast, fortunately the heavy downpour was only during the morning giving the crews a soaking but did not result in a loss of wind. The fun race consisted of a tow up river for a 1 lap run from the channel marker to the finish line. Only 2 to 4 boats were sailing.

07/10/18

Cold but fine with 6mph max wind, not as fluky as N usually is. Not much wind on water.

07/10/18

A fine warm day; the wind was very light, coming generally from the north west but with significant gentle changes in direction and lulls which made racing challenging. The course first set consisted of an upstream starboard, followed by a starboard close to the car park and then a port mark near the Surrey bank , the latter requiring a full 360 degree turn around the mark. For the second race this was adjusted to two downstream starboard marks, the first well below the car park and the second above the line of the car park. Due to the light wind after the first race the two Bermudan sloops, a Bosun and a Gull, were replaced by their helms with Lasers,giving a race consisting solely of Lasers, though the Gull was used again in the final race of the day. There was a good number of boats sailing.

30/09/18

A fine cool day with a WNW 0-1 gust 2 wind; sailing was OK in the morning but the by the last race had reduced and was very variable and shifty; very different sailing from earlier. The 14:00 fun event was collecting balls that had been distributed in the river. Ranking was by number of balls collected.

23/09/18

The weather forecast indicated a 95% chance of rain in any hour until mid afternoon and north westerly winds in the upper teens with gusts in the upper twenties. In the event the rain had nearly stopped by the time we sailed and a sunny day developed, while the wind abated after the first race and was readily handled by all boats until about 20 minutes into the last race of the day, when a passing storm cloud produced a sudden very strong gust which capsized the two Lasers. The course set was an upstream beat to a port near the club house, followed by a top starboard and a starboard port dogleg on the run back to the start line, followed by a double port at the bottom end of the course. For the fun race Cathy Bridger introduced a competition involving manoeuvring in front of the club house in order to drop plastic balls into the cockpits of competing boats, the event being won by the boat containing the fewest balls; there was very close sailing and it was very entertaining. Two ladies raising money for charity by trying 40 sports in 40 days had arranged a visit to try sailing; they sailed with Nigel Knowles in his Bosun during the lunch hour.

16/09/18

A glorious blue sky with basically a WSW 2-3 wind; unfortunately it was any direction, very variable, shifty and fluky giving interesting times to Laser sailors and suiting the Bosuns more. One sailor said it was the worse he had known it in the 2 years he had been with us. Pat Halling switched from his Laser to his Bosun for the final race of the day. The course set for the three main races was a beat up river to a port on the Middlesex side, a Middlesex starboard Surrey Port dogleg on the run down to the start line, and finally a Middlesex starboard and Surrey starboard at the down river end of the course. The fun race consisted of a pursuit between four Bosuns and one Laser. The course set was a beat up river for 30 minutes. i.e. without laps, and so the relative positions were more readily visible than in normal, multi-lap race, giving a good spectacle for the race officers following in the patrol boat. Although Josh started over 10 minutes after the first boat he was still first.

09/09/18

SW 1-2 gust 3 (9-16 mph), very shifty, patchy and variable although quite a good sail as not fluky. Clouds which looked ominous at times gave rise to no rain, but did add gusts to the moderate south westerly wind , sufficient to add a couple of capsizes by one Laser and to induce another to reef. The course set was a beat up river to a port near the Surrey bank, then a run to a port near the same bank just below Pat Halling's house, a short upwind leg to a starboard in line with the road to the club, and a run of about 200 meters to a final starboard on the Middlesex side. For the fun event Mike Hendra took to the water to demonstrate the recovery of crew overboard into the patrol boat; very difficult unless the ladder was used. Jamie Wilson and Evelyn Norman switched from their Enterprise to race in Richard Cannon's SigneT in the first sprint race.

02/09/18

The weather was sunny with a 0 - 1 wind from the south east or east. A course was set with a down stream beat to a through the middle choice on a line just below the car park, followed by a run up to another though the middle choice just below the ramp. After lunch Don Barnett gave a talk on seamanship and produced a club lounge full of members getting tied up in knots.

26/08/18

Unfortunately the weather forecast for the day of fun sailing was correct; cold with heavy rain from 11:00; there were many members at the club but as it wasn't going to be fun no one wanted to sail. Pat provided the usual burgers for lunch and Jean Maracchi delicious home made cakes for tea.

19/08/18

The weather was dry with a fairly strong,1-2 gust 3( 8-16 mph) but not excessively gusty westerly which switched between south west and north west; good sailing. The course set was a beat up river to a pair of starboard marks, the first near the Surrey bank and the second just short of the ramp, then a run to a pair of starboards just below the car park and a port dogleg on the beat back to the start line. The Bosuns and Gull had nothing more than an occasional interesting moment, but Lasers experience a number of capsizes and retirements; Rodger Wheeler's main sheet caught up and he couldn't recover and was towed back. Dane Halling recovered from his capsize quickly enough win on BH and PH.

12/08/18

S 1-2 gust 3,5- 15 mph, extremely shifty, fluky and gusty. Some rain but not as wet as expected.

05/08/18

The weather experienced was light winds from the south east, though occasionally the wind would switch to a westerly and at other times there was no consistent direction. A simple course was set, namely a downstream beat to a port off Pat Halling's house, followed by a run up river to a port just above the overflow. The distance to the first port was increased in the afternoon. Lasers were the boats best suited to the weather, though Brenda and Kevin Lavery cruised their Bosun during the day.

29/07/18

The hot weather having been replaced by a low, the day saw blustery winds from the south south east with some light rain; horrible. The course was a beat down river to a port off the car park, then a run up to a port just below the start line, a beat to the Surrey bank with a starboard off Pat Halling's house, then a run to a top port mark. No Lasers competed, there being 3 Bosuns in use plus a Bermudan rigged Skipper 14 with a 420 sail. In the latter Alastair Gray upped his game and scored four firsts on the day. both on boat handicap and on personal handicap.

15/07/18

Winds averaging 2 to 5 miles per hour were forecast, so a simple course was set with an upstream beat to a choice of marks, then a run to a similar downstream choice. Seven helms participated in racing, including Brenda and Kevin Lavery in their recently acquired Bosun 1818 first race. For the TFC event a 30 minute pursuit race was held, the pursuit template being used to calculate start times with the slowest participating boat and helm combination starting at time zero, rather than the traditional notional Mirror.

01/07/18

The day was as forecast; E to NE 12 mph wind and very hot (30°); very good sailing but a bit more patchy than expected. Nigel Kowles gave a talk, with demonstration, of capsize recovery; some members had a practice at recovery. As conditions were ideal the 15:30 race was up to Sunbury for the Cundy Long Distance race; it was an exellent sail, Peter Carpenter won on PH so has the Cundy Trophy.

27/06/18

Conditions were perfect for the Mid Summer Cruise to the Weir Hotel for a meal; hot with a steady East 7-10 mph wind which hadn't dropped much by the time we returned to AQSC at 22:00. A Laser, a Comet, Aquarius patrol boat and a cruiser went.

24/06/18

NE 0-1 very variable, patchy, hot. No one wanted to do the 14:00 event or the 2nd Sprint race. We had 2 or 3 families visit us and they were taken out in the patrol boats. Another person joined.

17/06/18

Very similar to yesterday but colder. Mike Baker capsized in the first race. After last fun and game event there was the traditalnal strawberry cream tea.

16/06/18

The Regatta had a fine day with a SW 10 mph gust 18 mph wind BUT very shifty and variable; horrible sailing. Deborah Lea prepared a delicious early supper for 9 members.

10/06/18

A NE 0-1 gust 2 variable and patchy wind. The fun event was a pursuit race based on boat handicap.

03/06/18

A brilliant day but unfortunately the forcast of a 2 to 4 mph West wind was correct; it was very difficult to make way against the 1 knot current. The 12:00 and 15:30 races were cancelled. In the afternoon, after a talk by the club president on patrol boats and an unscheduled but entertaining demonstration by an antipodean visitor that a Laser can be capsized even in light winds, for the 14:00 race three Lasers and the Gull were towed upstream to just above Sunbury Court Island and released to race back to the landing stage. The Gull, which is essentially an experimental boat at this stage, having been chosen, inter alia, for its slowness and consequent 24 point differential in boat handicap compared with a Laser, managed to split the Lasers on boat handicap, coming second. In the personal handicap result the first and third Lasers switched places due to a 16 point difference in personal handicaps. Note, however, that when the current equals the Gull’s upriver speed over the water, the Lasers should live up to their name and become infinitely faster than the Gull. The Gull helm will devote an enforced 6 week absence from racing to praying for a good drought.

13/05/18

A much better Open Day, a bit more wind and fine all day. Still difficult to go upstream. about 6 boats sailed and both patrol boats took visiters out; we had 17 groups and over 50.

12/05/18

Open day. Very little variable SW wind. Difficult to make way upstream against 0.6knt current. Only 1 family of 4 and one other vistor; went out in Patrol boat and only Richard in ST369 sailed. Very wet from 12:30.

06/05/18

The recent problems arising from the strength of the current had further improved and the prior day had seen good racing conditions for the Mid Thames trophy at Hampton SC As the easterly winds were expected to be weaker, however, the course was set with choices at the top and bottom, giving a down river beat to a starboard off the car park, then a port set further downstream on the Surrey side, and a choice between a Middlesex side port and a Surrey side starboard (a ‘through the middle’ choice exploiting the current), followed by a long run upstream to a Middlesex side port or a Surrey side starboard (a ‘hooking round the outside’ choice avoiding the current). Three club Lasers were launched and joined by a single handed Grad. In the TFC event Nigel Knowles gave a short talk on racing rules, which were then applied in a murder mystery style event, each competitor being given a specific call for right of way which should be exercised to eliminate a specific, unwitting victim. When the fleet became too spread out the sailing secretary declared a free for all arrangement and adjudicated on rankings.

05/05/18

The 2017 Mid Thames Trophy was held at Hampton SC at the fourth attempt. There was less than 1 knot current and some East in the force 1-2 wind which inproved the chance of making way upstream. There were 16 entries from AQSC, HSC, DSC and guest Island Barn SC. At 1 minute to the start of the first race all but 3 boats had drifted down stream over the line. Fortunately a bit of breeze filled in and only one boat was over the line at the start. There was a bit more wind for rhe next 2 races. Desborough SC won the MTT, AQSC were 3rd..

29/04/18

The current was reasonable at 0.7 knot and the wind was NNE force 1-2 gust 3 (8 to 18 mph on the weather station). The best winds were to be found along the Surrey bank with a broad reach / run up stream and a beat downstream. The lower end of the course was close to the top of Platt’s Ait and here easterlies were experienced, while at the top end above the club house north westerlies were experienced and care was needed at the top mark. This was good Bosun weather and Nigel’s Bosun 34 came close enough on the water to convert the Laser’s BH win to a PH win for the Bosun. The single handed Grad was overpowered at times. Scullers passing through the race course added interest to the proceedings. After two races the fun race was not held due to preparations for the open weekend being given precedence, and only the Bosun was available for the final scheduled race. so it wasn't held.

22/04/18

After four weeks of excessive current, a resumption of sailing seemed possible. But there was a torrential thunderstorm Saturday night and a 1.2 knt current. Southerly winds being forecast averaging up to 12 mph with gusts to 18 mph, which seemed sufficient to make way against the stream. The first two marks were challenging but doable, entailing an upriver struggle along the Middlesex bank to a top port as the wind switched repeatedly between a southerly broad reach and a westerly on the nose, followed by a fairly easy port on the Surrey side during the downstream leg. The third mark, a starboard off the car park, lacked wind due to the wind shadow created by the trees, and escape took a slow moving boat into a stronger current, creating a trap. It was necessary to hook round the final mark, a starboard on the Surrey side, with sufficient speed to complete the turn and get back to the Middlesex bank without falling into the wind shadow caused by the trees. In the first race half the fleet went upstream, but only one Laser completed a lap. The other half drifted downstream into the trap, from which one Grad crossed the start line after 29 minutes and completed one lap after 49 minutes. The second race was cancelled and in the fun race two Lasers were towed upstream to race back for tea and cakes. The trap was generally avoided in the last race, but the three leading boats, Lasers, could not complete the turn at the last mark and drifted downstream, giving the Grad time and room to complete the turn at its second attempt and finish ahead.

18/04/18

A hot day and at last no strong current warning, less than 1 knt and a SW force 2-3 wind. Allan Ross had a very enjoyable sail in a Laser. Bodgit and Son continue to replace the Quarter Deck timber.

11/03/18

The forecast was for a wet 10 mph West wind; it was fine and half the wind with 1 knot current. Ten members were at AQSC for tea and cakes but no one sailed. Grayham with Don, in Don's row boat, rowed to Molesey Lock and back to the west end of our moorings; Don said it was very cold as passenger.

04/03/18

Cloudy day, much warmer at last. About 10 at AQSC the main activity was putting the start of season pack in envelopes.

25/02/18

Very cold day with cloudless sky and 8-12 mph steady East wind. Excellent sailing for Graham in his Bosun with Richard as crew; it didn't feel cold. A visitor was also taken out. The second sailing day at AQSC since the end of last season.

18/02/18

Fine, 1 knt current. Nigel fitted new light in car park. 6 at AQSC for tea and cakes, no one to sail.

11/02/18

Cold, windy, no current. About 7 at AQSC for lunch, tea and cakes. No one to sail.

04/02/18

A cold cloudy day with some spits of rain, negligible current but no one to sail. Nigel and Graham checked the boat records with the boats on the berths.

28/01/18

Mild and dry with a 7 mph SW wind but 1 kt current and a yellow stream decreasing boards at the locks. 6 at AQSC for tea and cakes.

21/01/18

Very cold wet day, didn't put off around 6 coming to AQSC for a chat, tea and cakes

15/01/18

Winds averaging 2 to 5 miles per hour were forecast, so a simple course was set with an upstream beat to a choice of marks, then a run to a similar downstream choice. Seven helms participated in racing, including Brenda and Kevin Lavery in their recently acquired Bosun 1818 for it's first race. For the TFC event a 30 minute pursuit race was held, the pursuit template being used to calculate start times with the slowest participating boat and helm combination starting at time zero, rather than the traditional notional Mirror.

14/01/18

A fine, cold day with no wind. About 8 at AQSC; Graham and Dudley went for a long row beteen the locks.

07/01/18

A cold fine day with a good NE 10 mph wind BUT although only 1 to 2 kt current there were still Yellow warning boards at Sunbury and Molesey Locks.

01/01/18

Intended to be New Year Day Sail but 2 to 3 knt current and Yellow board current increasing warning at Sunbury and Molesey locks so no sailing; also not enough wind. Nigel Knowles provided 14 members with a chilli con carne, jacket potatos, and baked bean lunch.