The 2022 Bar V Bench match for the GUT trophy was raced for the first time the Royal Yacht Squadron J70’s. All concerned were impressed by the immaculate presentation of the yachts. While the yachts are kept ashore in Shepherds Marina when not in use they were launched and rigged for racing when we arrived for the  race briefing at 10 am. 

Four yachts were raced. Michael Briggs and Crispin Winser helmed for the Bench and Adam Griffiths and Rory Caslin for the Bar. The Squadron provided a committee boat and rib to lay the marks for a square course of two rounds in Osbourne Bay. The races were held in ideal conditions of a 20 knot westerly in bright sunshine. There were two races before lunch and two in the afternoon. 

The J70’s are quick and very responsive which unsurprisingly led to the fiercest and most competitive racing. The experienced team racing helms took every advantage of the yachts and conditions to overturn a winning or losing position several times in each race. The races before lunch were won by the Bar and those after those after were shared equally giving the Bar victory over the day subject to a protest by Michael Briggs which was not pursued in time honoured tradition. The Bench won the passage race home not least because the Bar did not listen carefully enough to the course. 

Racing was followed by an invitation from Michael Briggs to tea and cakes aboard Kingfisher which was admired by all. There followed drinks and dinner at the Squadron where we were warmly welcomed by James Holman as Commodore. The dinner was graced by our former Commodore Sheila Jones though sadly John Ungley could not attend and was sorely missed.

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The BYC Solent Rally at Cowes was well attended with 5 yachts. The Commodore chartered a skippered First 40.7, Guy Adams brought his S&S 34, Richard and Judy Southwell brought Aluna, John Oates his Parker 28, and Robin Powell the classic Crystal. 

The Willet Cup race was run on Saturday in superb conditions, 20-22 knots SW and bright sunshine over a square course set by the Commodore in concert with David Hunt and others. The start was The Squadron line, the first mark Trinity House to port, then north across and east rounding two racing marks to starboard, back south across the Solent rounding Peel Bank to starboard and finishing with Royal London due north. It was, as usual, a handicap race but with a staggered start to bring the yachts over the finish line together. Crystal was first off with others following at 15-minute intervals and the Commodore’s First 40.7, Fandango, the last to start. Most yachts had a reef in the main and the lee rail in the water all the way around. As the fleet sailed the third leg two Very Large Container Vessels crossed the deep water channel necessitating avoiding action by Crystal. By the last leg Crystal was still ahead but both Idiah and Fandango were closing quickly. All three yachts approached the finish line together but neither Crystal nor Fandango could point quite high enough and had to tack giving Idiah line honours followed by Fandango and Crystal. It was club racing at its best.

The final result on corrected time was;

1. Crystal II – Robin Powell (86 mins)

2. Idiah – Guy Adams (86.3).

3. Fandango – Alex Charlton (86.4)

4. Aluna – Richard Southwell (97.9)

5. Good News – John Oates (110)

Everyone then attended a splendid dinner at the Red Duster in Cowes at which the toasts to the Club, The Commodore, and the competitors were eloquent and heartfelt. On Sunday all bar Idiah sailed to Priory Bay for a picnic lunch in the sunshine. It was the perfect end to a perfect rally.

Robin Powell

Race Captain.

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SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR HRH THE LATE PRINCE PHILIP DUKE OF EDINBURGH 1921-2021 AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY TUESDAY 29 TH MARCH 2022

On Tuesday 29^th March this year our Commodore Alex Charlton and myself had the great honour, and pleasure, of representing the BYC at the Service of Thanksgiving for HRH The Late Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. Who was our Admiral for 67 years from 1954 until his death in 2021.

Alex had had an early conference so as to arrive at the Abbey at 10am. I joined him in an already long queue of smartly dressed attendees. Representing the many organisations in which the Duke of Edinburgh had been involved. Including a large number of serving officers and men and women from the armed forces. The queue moved quickly through the most friendly and efficient security checks I can remember. After passing through a Guard of Honour of young people from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, we were ushered to our seats in the Nave next to the Choir Screen. En route we were pleased to see James Holman already seated. There in his role as Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. We were sitting with the representatives of the RNSA, their Commodore Vice Admiral Sir Chris Gardner, and a young woman who is a serving nurse in the Royal Navy as well as a recreational sailor. At the last minute we were joined by a very pleasant woman who turned out to be the Chief Executive of the World Wildlife Fund, who was late because she had just been interviewed by the BBC. To her amusement she was seated on top of Charles Darwin’s tomb, which somehow seemed appropriate!

Whilst we waited for the Royal Guests to arrive, we were treated to some truly wonderful music played by the Abbey organists, and the Band of the Royal Marines who were positioned in the Nave. The organ music included works by Vidor, Bach, Beethoven and Stamford. Sadly, it was not to be heard on the television recording of the event.

For the next hour it was a game of spot the Royals. In which Alex had a great advantage over me as his height came into play. I could only see heads and shoulders! Prince Philip’s Greek relations, the Foreign Royal Families, and then the British Royal Family processed in turn down the aisle of the Nave into the choir. Where they were seated. The Duchess of Cambridge looking absolutely exquisite to my mind.

There had been some doubt as to whether the Queen would be able to attend but at 11.30 sharp her presence was made known by the Heralds sounding a fanfare as she entered privately from the Poets Corner to take her seat with the rest of the Royal Family.

The Service itself was in accord with Prince Philip’s express wishes and plan, concise and to the point. The music and the hymns were glorious, and the two addresses short. The first was given by a young woman now in her twenties who was a gold award holder in the Duke’s scheme. She spoke incredibly well without any sign of nerves, about how the scheme had given her confidence and the ability to take up opportunities and succeed in life. Later the Dean of Westminster gave a short address, which, whilst it made clear reference to the Duke, his life and qualities, was in my opinion, a touch impersonal. However, perhaps the Duke would have wished that.

After prayers and a rousing rendition of Cwm Rhondda, in which I sang the chorus Bread of Heaven as robustly as I could, it being a favourite of mine, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the blessing, and it was all over by 12.20, fifty minutes sharp, exactly as scheduled.

Alex and I retired from the Abbey elated and had a very good lunch.

Shelagh Farror

Immediate Past Commodore 2021

The Bar 4 way match on 12 June 2022 against the Law Society, Sheffield University Alumni and The Civil Engineers took place against a backdrop of sparkling sunshine and a light breeze which made for perfect sailing weather. The Bar team was helmed by Crispin Winser QC, Rory Caslin, now a well established if junior member of the team and new member Will Knatchbull who made his mark in the match against Seaview in May. We also welcomed Kirsty Sutherland who crewed for Crispin with Andrew Venables.The young Bar is now well established in the Team. 

A last minute hitch caused by the lack of a 12th yacht due to a dismasting by previous charterers was ingeniously solved with a seemingly complex but practically seamless arrangement of one team standing out and then swapping yachts with a team that had completed the earlier race. In this way two round Robins were sailed of 6 races each making a total of twelve races on a short square course of one lap which is a record for the number of races sailed in this event. As the day progressed the sailing became increasingly competitive and after an excellent lunch a red testosterone mist descended on the third mark in the Bar v Sheffield race resulting in protests being lodged. Calm was restored when the Commodore pointed out that there is no protest committee and so no protests would be heard. The day ended with Sheffield winning all their heats, The Bar came second and the Law Society and Engineers drew with one win each. The Captains of each team expressed their thanks to the club for organising a really splendid day’s sailing and pledged to return in what is now a fixture in the calendar for us all.

Despite last minute Covid casualties the Bar launched a full team of 6 boats against the home team of Seaview. It was particularly encouraging to have 6 new and younger members racing and for most it was their first visit to Seaview We were fortunate that Rory Caslin attended coming all the way from Dublin. Andrew Venables, Jim Hirschman, Josh Hitchens, Will Knatchbull and Jakob Reckhenrich had their Mermaid debuts.

Many of the team arrived on Saturday and the Commodore generously stood us drinks at the Northbank Hotel on Saturday evening when we stood on the lawn overlooking the Solent bathed in early evening sunshine. It was a picture. We followed up with dinner at the Seaview Yacht Club in a very convivial atmosphere.

Sunday started with light airs and the wind was forecast to fall away by 2 pm.  The team Captains agreed that we should keep racing as long as possible before the wind dropped. All 8 races were completed by 1 pm and we stopped for an excellent lunch at the club. The racing was highly competitive. Will was a real asset having raced for Exeter University and his experience of team racing Fireflies was immediately apparent on the helm with vigorous challenges of “No room at the mark, you have NO room” terrifying the Race Captain who was his crew and having an immediate and powerful effect on the unfortunate Seaview boat just astern. Will won that race. Andrew had a first in race 3, Alex a first in race 7 and Guy won race 8. The result was a commendable draw agains the vastly more experienced Seaview team who had the benefit of local knowledge.

In the event the wind picked up and we had a bonus fleet race in the afternoon. All agreed it was a splendid days racing.

Race Captain

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