Vagabond - Thames 'A' Rater

14/08/2024

Some super pictures from TSC's latest Tuesday evening race. Good wind, lovely evening, six Raters out, all followed by a super supper in the clubhouse amongst friends. Perfect!

12/08/2024

A few pictures - courtesy of the brilliant Trish Barnes - of Vagabond at the recent Wroxham Week. As ever, the Raters were welcomed in fine fashion by Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, and it was a great week's sailing in good winds and decent weather. In the competition for the Clayton Cup Vagabond was off the pace, but it was still good sailing and also very nice to welcome Francis Churchill and David West as guest crew throughout the week. Thanks then to the Wroxham crew of Kevin Pearson (helm), Nick Fribbens (sadly injured early on), Mark Laity, Francis and David. Also thanks to Miles Palmer, who was sailing Atlantis, but got Vagabond to Norfolk. And of course, massive thanks to the Vagabond support tem of Sally Pearson, Sue Palmer and Sue Pryde, who, along with Isy Dunn from the Osprey team, did so much to make it an all-round good week for all connected with the Raters.

21/05/2024

A reminder of the long heritage of Thames A Raters like Vagabond. She is in some of these old videos, which were collected together by Yachts & Yachting:

Bourne End Week has been running since 1887 and is days away from the 2024 edition. As this event includes the Thames A Rater National Championship, we round-up all the videos which show early racing in the Thames A Rater class.

21/09/2023

More new pictures of the Braganca Bowl, courtesy of Tamesis Club, this time of Day 2, when the wind was stronger if still variable. As stated in an earlier post, Vagabond won the last of the five races to win a closely fought series. Miles Palmer helmed again but crewing on day 2 was shared between Mark Fuller, Cleo Jongedijk and Dicken Maclean.

21/09/2023

Some super pictures, courtesy of Tamesis Club, from the first day of the recent Braganca Bowl series. Helm Miles Palmer with crew Mark Laity and Mark Fuller. The other Raters in the pictures are Osprey, Adventurer and Scamp. Thanks to Tamesis for the pics.

17/09/2023

https://www.facebook.com/reel/854973256146469
Day 1 of the 2-day 5 race Braganca Bowl series at Tamesis Club. There were two races on a sunny afternoon with just enough wind to make it competitive. Lots of place changing, with Vagabond scoring a 1st and a 2nd, crewed by Mark Laity and Mark Fuller, with Miles Palmer on the helm. Thanks to William Scaldwell for the pics.

21/06/2023

After a somewhat disappointing Bourne End Week, the Vagabond team returned to form with a very decisive win in Thames SC's annual pursuit race for the Thames 150th trophy. With eight Raters out, this was the best club turnout this year, making for a great sight for those watching from the clubhouse on a lovely sunny evening.
In a pursuit race the aim is start boats at different times according to their class handicap, so the slowest start first and the fastest last, but then finish at the same time, so regardless of boat type, the best sailed should be in front.
At TSC the slowest boats were away at 1835 and the Raters at 1915 with a 2000 finish. The wind was too light for the slower boats and the Raters soon overhauled them. There was some tight racing within the Raters, but Vagabond made an early break that put her into a lead she never lost.
The trophy itself is an unusual half-model of an early Rater and was donated by the Vagabond syndicate itself in 2020 to mark TSC's 150th anniversary, so it was especially pleasing for the team to win it this year, especially with virtually the whole TSC Rater fleet out on the water. A good night and also congratulations to Osprey in 2nd and Strait Dealer in 3rd.

12/06/2023

Some additional photos of our recent participation in the 2023 Bourne End Week. Not our finest hour with two capsizes mixed in amidst two seconds and a third, but it is what it is! Many thanks for Tony Ketley for permission to use his pictures.

30/05/2023

A real rollercoaster for Vagabond at this year's Bourne End event, where the Raters compete for the 8-race Thames Championship and the single race Queen's Cup. It was sunny but also with strong , gusty winds. The championship includes some trophies for individual races and few decent races were mixed with some lows as the team's 2nd places in two cup races were matched by two capsizes, including in the Queen's Cup. In another race there was also an unexpected swim for the midhand when he missed the toe strap and did a backward roll off the boat. The sun and wind made for exhilarating if challenging racing at times, even if disappointing overall. A word of congratulation though for Lady Iona and its crew who won their well-deserved first Queen's Cup. Some drone pictures make for spectacular viewing, but don't be fooled - it may look serene and calm, but it wasn't!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5hIcSXuByg