That Dinghy Race

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six dinghies started but only four finished the two laps and the winners were Alan Staley for the Traditionalists and Helen North for the Bermudans. Worries about whether the tide would make enough water were overcome by just launching them in anyway, the breeze overcoming any resistance of the mud .

Helen tore away from the start, signalled by Lady Sondes and her very loud air horn, and never looked back [clearly needed a bucket tied to her transom] and Alan and John lead the way in the luggers, until John let excitement waggle his rudder in the mud too vigorously causing it to break. The Topper was the only capsize but the rescue boat was on hand just in case he stuck his mast in the mud [nothing worse]  and the narrow beat to Morrisons definitely sorted the girls from the boys.

The winners were welcomed back over the line by more blasts on her Ladyship’s horn, having just given the now excited press photographer, reliving his youth as a fashion photographer, a demonstration of her modelling skills around the starting pole, whilst wearing a lifebuoy… we expect interesting pics in the Faversham Press today.  Lady Sondes kindly presented the cups to the winners; we hope that she enjoyed her day and thank her for joining in the spirit of the event.

A great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon and a reminder of what it will be like when we open that Bridge.

Our thanks go to Sixer, the Rescue Boat Crew, all the entrants and everyone who helped to make it an enjoyable and successful day.

 

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The Faversham Basin Dinghy Race this Sunday 19th July

This annual race was started by Sixer 3 years ago as a fun event to show what it would be like if the Basin was full of water and available to be used by boats, albeit small boats just now, but soon, when we have a Swinging Bridge, then it will be full of all sorts of craft.

The pics below are from last years race; this year there will be 2 cups, one for traditionally rigged boats, and one for more modern bermudan rigged boats. A just for fun race around the Basin….

The Race in the Basin

A peaceful start

Sunday saw our second annual dinghy race in the Faversham Creek Basin successfully completed in good weather with a nice breeze; in fact unlike last years flat calm, there were some interesting puffs to liven things up a bit.

return on the first lap

the lead changes

the puffs

Twice around the buoys for the eight boats, twice as many as last year, and won by twelve year old Ella Jameson in her laser, Whistle.

There was a good crowd and many followed the race along the footpath to the turning buoy at Morrisons wharf, and back.

Deputy mayor Cllr Jane Hawkins very kindly agreed to do the starting and finishing honours with the air horn, nervous at first, she quickly got the hang of it and then there was no stopping her. She was delighted to give the cup to Ella, who at 12 has a future as a sailor; dad is the shipwright and sailor, Simon Grillet.

the winner

Trust Chairman Prof Chris Wright thanked everyone who had taken part, including the Sea Cadets, and said the race was started to show how much the community would benefit once the Creek Basin has been brought back into use for local people with an interest in boating, and as an event for spectators and visitors.

stacked boat

One of the contestants, Alan Thorne, raced his brand-new nesting dinghy ‘The PuriFlyer’ which has been built in the Trust’s Purifier Building. It splits into two separate halves which can be stacked on the deck of a boat.

too close

Another contestant, local fireman Tim Mulcahy who learned to sail on the Creek as a schoolboy, had bought his boat only 3 days ago, but gave Ella some competition, as did Alan in the Puriflier, and Alan Staley.

It  was a great atmosphere, something that the Creek always seems to generate, and we look forward to the next Creek event, the Nautical Festival in July [12/13] organised by the Kent Sail Association.

 

 

Duelling on the last lap

Andrew in his folding boat

 

 

mmm I need to modify my rig..

 

Boys in a boat

young sailors

Chris Wright and our Patron Sir David Melville

Boat Folding

Dinghy Race – Sunday 15 June

Dinghy Race – Sunday 15 June
2.30 pm – Creek Basin

Please wish for good weather and a fair wind on Sunday 15 June, when we’ll be holding the second Dinghy Race in the Basin. Come and watch the start from the green by the Bridge, and follow the race along the footpath to Flood Lane.

We had to do more than wish to make sure it happens – Kent Highways were going to close the Bridge that day in order to repair the surface! Fortunately we were able to persuade them to postpone the closure to the following Sunday.

June Tea and Talk
Dr Pat Reid
The Archaeology of the Creek

Join us in the Fleur Hall, Gatefield Lane, on Tuesday, 24 June at 2.30 pm for a talk about the archaeology of the Creek, followed by tea and delicious cakes.

July Events

The Purifier Building will be open for the first three Saturdays in July, as part of the Faversham Society’s Open House Scheme.

On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July we will be supporting the Kent Sail Association’s Nautical Festival on Town Quay and Front Brents.