The event is certainly popular, with
cheering spectators (complete with picnics) lining the
route where there is permissible access to the
river. At a moments notice these individuals have
to abandon their vantage point and picnic as a sail
grazes the bank and a boom swings over to
bank. Commands and shouts of "sail before steam" drift across the choppy waters and frequently the spectators will break into spontaneous applause as a particularly difficult manoeuvre is deftly mastered. We witnessed some highly colourful language when a hire boat got mixed up in the middle of some complex tacking in the narrow stretch pictured above! The race is open to sailing dinghies, half-deckers, broads yachts and other sailing cruisers, so you will see all shapes and crew sizes. A most enjoyable event. |