The Trafalgar Trophy Pursuit race at Tamesis Yacht Club in Teddington kicked off on the 20th of October to an unpromising start.
Participant numbers dropped rapidly, due to rough conditions, as high wind speeds and unpredictable gusts made racing seem unlikely.
After much deliberation, the race officer decided to go ahead with the event, informing the spectators, ‘We’ve just got to take this one lap at a time.’
Two brave participants faced up to the challenge and rigged their boats, ready for the pursuit race, observed by a few hardy onlookers.
Sailors, Ilker Sener, and Alexey Anatskiy, challenged the conditions, both sailing Lasers (single handed racing dinghies).
Despite an unconventional start, involving both sailors going the wrong way, and adding an accidental extra lap to the course, the race was underway!
The leading position was constantly changing, with tactical racing, tricky tacks, and a fair few capsizes, but the sailors were resilient, and both managed to finish, despite initial doubts that the race would even go ahead!
The win went to Ilker, but both sailors put up a brilliant fight, and retired from the river for a well-deserved lunch in the clubhouse, taking shelter from the rainy weather.
The prize was the coveted print of the ‘Battle of Trafalgar’ painting, by Eduardo de Martino, which depicts the HMS Royal Sovereign, leading the leeward division under the command of Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, breaking through the French and Spanish line on the 21st of October 1805.
The original painting is in possession of the King’s private collection in Buckingham palace and the print was produced by the Medici Society in 1933.
The Trafalgar Pursuit race is annually held at the yacht club, on the weekend nearest to the 21st of October, to commemorate the painting and the winner has the honour of a plaque with their name, on its frame.
For more information surrounding the club and what’s on, visit https://www.tamesisclub.co.uk/
