3rd October - Hasler Finals tj

The course starts and finishes on the Regatta lake, but owing to a mistake by the designers, the lake is not long enough for the toughies of Div 6 and above. The race organisers got round this by including a section of the river, but they forgot about the grass which seperates the river from the lake. Ho Hum, never mind it just means we have to run and carry the boat across some of it. A pre race check reveals that the organisers have also organised a large concrete drainpipe which we have to paddle through before entering the river! "Are you ready...GO!" but our boatholder hold on for grim death - at least that's my excuse, and the field disappears off into the distance. Karl and I get into our stride, and by the time we've rounded the top bend we're up to about 20th. A strategically brilliant decision of mine to stay out of the weed on the downwind run to the portage takes us up to about 15th. The portage - and a slightly bent rudder gives us steering problems. We get cut up by a boat which thinks it's faster, but for some reason they turn and ram the bank in front of us. Leaving them bobbing across the rest of the field, we head off through the tunnel in solitary splendour. Catching Simon and Kim, we leave them to eat our wash, and a lift from a rapidly passing Hendron helps us up to Charmie and Melissa. Henry politely requests a way through from Charmie, but Melissa is on good form, and turns the air blue with her answer. Henry shrugs laconically (not another long word ed) and paddles round them. Assuming that our rapid progress through the field means that we are on good form, Charmie attaches herself limpet like to our wash, and we fall behind! A couple of minutes later, Karl, who has been taking things easy realises the race has started and joins in. We hare off into the distance leaving the group behind. Returning back toward the portage, a superbly judged sprint takes us safely through the tunnel. K1s from Div 4 appear alongside, and I give instructions. "We're heading for the middle" "One behind, one in front please". Amazingly they did what was asked. Later discover they thought it was Melissa in the back! Last stretch. Rudder now properly broken - no steering, and in frustration we see about 10 boats cruise past. 20th!! But a good weekend.

Saturday 9th October tj

Arrive at the club at 8.30, manhandle coaching launch into the river, and Tim, Trevor and Craig head for Putney to take part in a Power Boat course.

Now from all the fuss in previous Bloggs, you'll know that the club has a large and powerful tin can which is capable of throwing up the sort of wash which causes landslides, bank slips and flooding as far up as Twickenham.

It's essential that some of us are licenced to unleash this power from time to time. So lots of learning and practicing. After a morning of books and whiteboard diagrams of power plants (triffids), wash management (it's easy, clothes, soap and switch it on) and fourstroke inboard outdrives (I still don't get that one), the intrepid trio launched themselves on an unsuspecting public in a large greyish inflatable RIB thing with this HUGE box on the back.

Trevor was the first at the controls. Slowly down to Wandsworth, then the instructor says "so just ease the throttle...." Then a huge roar from the back and O Mi God.... We all picked ourselves up from the back seats to which we'd been plastered. Trevor was in catatonic shock, and the instructor, with shaking hands got out his fags. "Let's just define "ease" shall we.."

Everyone's true character came out. Craig, cautious, wise, careful but boring. Trevor scared, white faced but determined. Tim, complete nutter. Craig refused to be man overboard, so the Buoy Pamela was volunteered. "OK Craig just ease forward slowly SLOWLY......I think she's under the boat, stop the engine....(3 mins later)..I think she's stuck, so lets just go backwards shall we....mmmm." Pamela's remains were eventually scraped off the keel.

By then end of the day we could all spin the boat around in the width of the river at 30 or 40 miles an hour, Craig with panache, Trevor with white face and knuckles, and Tim with a wild whoop.

Back in the tin can to Richmond. Trevor "It gets a bit shallow round here some....CRUNCH" the highlight provided by Trevor hitting the shallows on what will henceforth be known as Trevor's island just below the half lock.

A superb meal at Trevor and Fran's, and we all promised not to say whose bed Craig spent the night in.

Sunday 10th October tj

Back in the tin can to Putney.

Map reading, GPS, spherical trigonometry, Great Circle Routes and how to miss the car park at high water.

Today is the coastal part - high speed and a strong wind - with the tide flowing in the opposite direction!!

But first some slow speed three point turns in confined spaces. "OK Craig, ease it forward, spin the wheel, gently into reverse.... don't worry the brickwork can take it... shall we try that again without bouncing off the walls?"

Tim was wearing his commando suit, Craig a two day growth of beard, and Trevor a manic grin. Bribe the bouncers at St Catherine Docks to let us in, and persuade Tim to take his hat off for lunch.

Then the really high speed stuff. The competition to fly the boat won by Craig on a huge standing wave under Tower Bridge. That for lowest centre of gravity won by Trevor (fixed grin I'm enjoying this really) lying in the bottom of the boat - not so far to fall. That for the loudest laugh - Tim who is clearly really and truly completely nuts - selecting the biggest waves, the fastest speed - how the boat lasted remains a mystery!

Thence sadly and slowly back. The Blogg never advertises, but that course at Chas Newens Marine is Fab - go on it!

Just upstream of the half lock discover Stein's sign in the river and return it to them. Change and go back for drinks - free drinks courtesy of Stein's The Blogg never advertises, but their beer and food is Fab - go there!