ON Standing 1/4 Drag Run on the Thames.

[timberman2004]

or indeed my inflatable .....

I'll pump it up extra firm .....promise

[Horsley-Anarak]

Neal, perhaps I should bring the blue boat so that "Small timberperson" will see what his will be like .

H-A

[timberman2004]

No No No
expectation management and all the rest of it

just can't afford for a small person to get ideas above his Dad's station

[40TPI]

Let me know if you want to use it, and I will stick it on top of the other one.

H-A

That's very thoughtful of you. Thanks you, yes , if it isn't denying the smaller Anaraks a boat.

Peter

[timberman2004]

oh dear ...

so my extra inflated bum-boat obviously not up to Sirs expectations ????

[40TPI]

Oh dear ....................I do feel awful. So difficult not to offend in the face of such generosity.....and after being less than tactful on things like rotogulls. Although H-A did offer first......... Sharp pointy things like bowsprits in the vicinity of over inflated balloons really decided it though But thank you for the thought

Peter

[Horsley-Anarak]

What time is kick off?

Also, who is coming?

H-A

[rosbullterier]

I shall.

Next year . . .

[40TPI]

Same as last time as far as I know,( although did miss some calls whilst away tonight)..........unless new takers; always welcome. Woodman says same k.o. time...... 10:00.

Peter

[Hugz]

Good luck chaps, wish I could join you! Plenty of tow ropes...

[Horsley-Anarak]

Plenty of rain

H-A

P.S. my S.D, was a little like the curates egg, good in parts.

[40TPI]

And blessed with Brilliant sunshine in early afternoon.........

Peter

[Waggles]

So, what happened?

Speaking as one who has now missed both Thames meets due to being elsewhere in the country I wanna know!

[timberman2004]

Well my little Chick-a-dees ...
Arc de Triumph, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ascot, Grand National ...and that thing they also have occasionally in Melbourne......

Nope ....the Standing Thames 1/4 was NOT on a par ...distinct shortage of horse-power ...even for that Melbourne-y thing
the weather was foul, where you could barely see the other side of the river

it was more a case of limping across the river and seeing if you could limp back

Ummm...... the BBQ didn't take place

Errrr..... trip up river to the pub suddenly seemed like too much effort

Stunning acrobatics from Charles L ..aka The Gibbon.. in a full speed, emergency grab at my bowsprit ..I think his left arm is now 6" longer
there was a moment dangling from said appendage Mr C was totally airbourne as from bow to stern his trusty vessel rocketed under him ...and yes his face was a picture

Wonderful display of boy scout seamanship from 40TPI ...with hands full of rope, tiller, & engine in a very tippy vessel , spinning round not knowing where to look, single handedly bought a luxury Thames launch to the most crunching gearbox halt I've ever seen .....or he'd have been wearing it !!!
Litterally .."throw the bastard into reverse Scotty and sod the Di-lithium crystals"
...his face was a picture too

the SD's didn't perform as wished...we all had erratic running, false starts and dashed hopes
Roto-Gull whist much admired for the amazing metal content, but agreed really about as useful as aforementioned Curates Egg

soggy as hell everyone buggered off back to their respective sheds, to rip the SD's back down to their bare bones and start again

We all shame facedly agreed to call it a draw ...so no-ones feelings were too hurt

BUT NEXT YEAR !!!! well, just you lot wait

[Hugz]

There is nothing half so much worth doing as mucking about in boats. In them or out of them, it doesn't much matter." — Says the Water Rat.

Oh well... out on Sydney Harbour with narry a cloud in sight, sparkling blue water, glistening shells of the opera house setting us on course, slick yachts gliding past, prawns, champagne.......... motor conked out! Seagulls will be seadulls in whatever the company.