The Dragon fleet are away, on a reaching start. It is the only one possible, with today's southerly breeze. Their spinnakers are ablaze in the sunlight, cracking like gunfire, as they fill. Bow waves foam and sparkle.
They line up, on the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club line, in a black squall. Passing the site of the Petticrows yard, in which they were built . Now the Petticrows Court maisonette complex . With the historic boat builders relocated to Cascais, in the Portuguese sun.
Pencil slim, low freeboard and long graceful overhangs . A timeless hull form, on which today's Spirit yachts (which we saw under construction in Ipswich) are modelled
The Dragon fleet dice and jockey for position, as gusts roll off the river banks. One of the Blaze fleet is already out (bottom left). Every inch the modern racing skiff: monofilm sails, blunt ends and hiking racks. The lone helm sheets in, heads up a touch, leans back in the toe straps, climbs onto the plane and effortlessly overtakes the Dragons, to leeward . Ancient and modern . Compare and contrast.
Ashore, the main Blaze fleet prepare for their start . Rigging up. Checking the course . Pre race banter ricochets back and forth . Nervous laughter. The tension mounts, as the first warning gun sounds.
Some prefer to chill. Confident in their boat preparation . . . .and of reaching the start in time.
Some prowl the line . Searching for wind bias. Watching for race signals. Monitoring the countdown by wrist-worn stopwatch.
One by one, the fleet assembles for the Sunday race.
Back at the marina, a different type of Sunday atmosphere pervades. Folk are down for the weekend. The sunshine encourages lingering pontoon conversations : plans for the season, "I like your boat," the best local anchorages, tidal timing tricks, "I remember once when. . . . ." Boat talk, anywhere . Acquaintances made or renewed.
The forecast tells of a week of westerly winds, starting tomorrow.
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