TYC Racers Brave the Pounding Rain in Annual Commodores’ Race

The forecast called for a wet Sunday, and it delivered.

Twenty-five boats signed up for the 78th annual ECSA Thames Yacht Club Commodores’ Trophy Race on Sunday, September 13, but as the rain clouds gathered and the forecast grew wetter, many sailors made the decision to keep their boats—and themselves—dry.

But six diehard racers had other ideas.As the saying goes, the show must go on.

With rain pouring down, the race committee moved the start to Queen Mary, with the first boats heading off at 1 p.m. Two spinnaker boats sailed toward Silver Eel, while the double-handed and cruising boats headed toward Buoy No. 1 at the mouth of the Thames River.

The race began with a downwind start, but conditions quickly became more challenging as the wind eased and a strong ebb tide charged out of the river. The sailors had to work hard to make their way back upwind, battling the current and the steady pounding rain.

In the end, the TYC boats showed they were up to the challenge, with Thames Yacht Club racers taking first place in each of their respective divisions.

Race Results

• Aries — First, Double-Handed (Dave Knecht)
• Duet — Second, Double-Handed (Greg Locke)
• Heron — Third, Double-Handed (Roy Adamson)
• Syrah — First, Cruising ( Yakov Bar-Shalom)
• Xcellent — First, Spinnaker Class 1 (Eric O’Sullivan)
• Trilogy — First, Spinnaker Class 2 (Josh Hazelwood)

Two TYC racers also won the Harkness Cup, the combined results of Niantic Bay’s Early Bird Regatta and TYC’s Commodores’ Trophy Race. Heron took honors in the non-spinnaker class and Xcellent in the spinnaker class. 

Principal Race Officer Jeff Lamothe said that while getting the race underway in the heavy rain presented a few challenges, the race committee worked closely with the sailors to create a course that would provide a good test for the fleet.

“I enjoyed the collaborative process with the racers to decide on a challenging course that resulted in a great race,” Lamothe said.

And while the sailors may have been soaked by the time they crossed the finish line, the real reward was waiting back at the club.

Despite the rain and cancellations, about 60 members turned out for the Commodores’ Trophy Race party. Fortunately, the skies finally began to cooperate. By the time the party got underway, the sun had made an appearance, allowing members to spread out onto the deck and enjoy the afternoon.

There was plenty of good food to go around, including barbecue chicken, corn on the cob, macaroni and potato salad, baked beans, cornbread, and watermelon.

Behind the bar, Commodore Colin Redhead kept the drinks flowing, mixing up Dark ’N Stormy cocktails and serving beer as members swapped stories about the day on the water.

Vice Commodore Nina Jeannotte said it was especially nice to see the weather turn around and the deck fill with members after such a soggy start to the day.

“It was great to see the rain stop and everyone come out to enjoy the sunshine and the party,” Jeannotte said. Redhead also praised the members who showed up early to help with setup and stayed to make the event a success.

“That’s what makes our club what it is—the members working together,” Redhead said.

At TYC, a little rain may change the course—but it doesn’t stop the fun