Regatta Day on the River from an Environment Agency perspective.
Sunbury Amateur Regatta does not just start for us on the designated day, but some months before when we receive notification from the regatta sectary that this annual event will once again take place.
Nearer the day I am invited to one or two regatta committee meetings chaired by John Tetlow, when we rack our brains on how to do it all again better than last year. The regatta for us starts for us on the Friday. the large marker buoys are laid in the middle of the river in set positions.
Slow Down!
During the racing, we usually find one or two boats, incapable of reading the warning signs to keep to the Surrey bank, heading straight for an oncoming race. Also numerous boats fail to observe their wash and must be persuaded to SLOW DOWN. Those punts are not the most stable things in the world and it doesn't take much to sink one.
At some point during the aftenoon, the long start boat often decides to drift off-course and we have to give a hand re-anchoring the boat.
Course Inspection
During the afternoon the Mayor of Spelthorne is taken for a tour of the Regatta course, last year aboard S.L. Eclipse, and we perform the escort duties. Luckily the racing stops for quarter of an hour or so whilst this is in progress.
Racing ends at about 6 pm, and we have earned a well-deserved break-but not for long. Boats start jostling for anchorage positions to watch the M.T.Y.C sail past and fireworks. naturally, everyone wants to get the best position and some even think that blocking the river completely is in order. Some boats have forgotten there anchors and must be found a location between two boats with good anchorage, if such a exists in this poor holding.
A few years ago we had the brilliant idea of arming all the anchor boats - those nearest the surrey bank - with orange flashing lights. Unfortunately, the Regatta gremlins got at them and very few actually worked......Oh dear!
Illuminated Sailpast
The Mid Thames Yacht Club(M.T.Y.C) Illuminated procession of boats sets off down the regatta course led by a patrol boat with its blue flashing light. The owners have spent most of the day decorating their boats in different themes from a depiction of tower bridge, a spider in a web to a Spanish galleon. One year some boats decided to turn 180 degrees before the designated turning point - you can imagine the confusion!
After this, it's time for around 20 minutes rest, whilst watching the fireworks illuminate the night sky. Keeping one eye on the moored boats in case of anchor slipage, obviously.
BEDLAM!
Finally, as the last bang of the fireworks echoes around our ears, its the grand prix start for the lock. Heaven help any small craft that are not lit, as they will be caught in the rush to get home first. A word for the wise: SLOW DOWN AND TAKE YOUR TIME, as both the old lock and the new lock are manned all evening so as to ensure safe, speedy passage.
We navigation inspectors and lockkeepers alike enjoy the evening, so please be a little patient. Remember the lockkeeper has been at it all day. The patrol launch is put to bed and I follow at around 1 am, ready to do it all again on Sunday. Its a tough life on the river.
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