A Thank You From The Commodore
Thank you to everyone who came and supported us on Commodore’s Day.
The sun shone and the winds were perfect for some exciting racing and a day celebrating the very best of Medway Yacht Club.
In the morning the Dragon Class showed how well the crew can do taking the helm. Four boats competed for the very important title which was won by Bill Baker in Taniwha
It was a fantastic sight watching twenty three boats enter the all-comers Lemon Trophy race in the afternoon. The race was held in front of the club with a lapping course between a temporary mark laid by Upnor Castle and buoys 30A and 31. The tide was very strong by this point in the afternoon so those who took advantage of shallow waters made better progress.
The overall winner was Chris Brealy and crew in Dragon OCD. Second place was Brian and Liz McKenzie in Wayfarer, Hercules Hound and third was Edwin Hannant and crew in Dragon Gandalf.
The dragon class won the Magula Trophy which is for the top 3 classed boats.
The Cruiser Class embraced their Viking theme with some fantastic costumes and decorated boats.
The Zests and Tera dinghies were in demand with Elliot and his helpers showing off how well these new training boats work on our river.
A very enjoyable Tapas was the theme for Friday evening’s supper which proved very popular and on Saturday all the clubhouse staff worked incredibly hard from breakfast time to the evening dinner. Thank you all for the delicious hog roast and for ensuring that everyone was ‘fed and watered’ throughout the weekend.
Seeing the Club packed with members, having fun on and off the water was fantastic and makes the responsibility and challenges of being a flag officer very worthwhile!!
Thank you to everyone for making Commodore’s Day so special.
Catherine Gore
Commodore
Race Report
What a day on Heartbreak Reach! Boats of every conceivable shape and questionable speed gathered for the annual allcomers race. Sonatas, Dragons, Wayfarers, Squibs, Skiffs, and Lasers all lined up like contestants in a nautical beauty pageant—though some were clearly there for personality rather than performance.
The start was almost textbook perfect… almost. Every boat surged forward with purpose—except for one heroic Wayfarer (Phillip) that decided the best way to win was to sail in the opposite direction. Bold strategy, but sadly, not a winning one.
Upwind was a true test of grit, tide, and balance. The Skiff, in particular, demonstrated an innovative approach to sailing: spending much of the leg upside down. Meanwhile, the Dragons glided majestically, the Sonatas slid, and the Wayfarer’s waltzed their way up the course, and the Laser… well, he just tried to stay upright.
After a quick blast downwind (and a few more capsizes for good measure), the fleet prepared for lap two. Originally, the course was three laps, but in a rare act of mercy, the race committee shortened it to two, ensuring everyone could make it back in time for the real competition: tug of war, cake demolition, and hog roast consumption.
The cruiser class stole the show ashore, dressed as Vikings with bunting, shields, and figureheads. It was less “How to Train Your Dragon” and more “How to Raid the Barbecue,” but the effect was glorious.
As for the results? No idea who won the race, the tug of war, or the cake-eating contest—but everyone agreed the day was a triumph of chaos, camaraderie, and questionable tactics.
ForeDug out…