RAOC Gazette - page 135
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
THE CORPS INDIVIDUAL REGATTA THB Individual Regatta was held at Netley again this year, presenting the usual problems of tidal waters for both organisers and competitors. The regatta was characterised by high winds a nd choppy seas. We had everything from sun to hail, with winds up to force 7 and seas which could swamp an unwary dinghy with one wave. Day 1, race 1: first Major Roger Dace and Lieutenant Colonel Tony Sharpe, second Mr Dusty Miller and his wife Marilyn; race 2: first Mr Dusty Mill, second Mr Bob Marshall and his son Keith; but over half the fleet retired after capsizing in force 7 gusts. One young helm, faced by a swamped boat, cried "Abandon ship" and promptly did so! Race 3 was post- poned ! Day 2, race 3: first Major Jim Ashcroft and Sergeant Joe jvterrishaw, second Dusty Miller. Dace the Ace came seventh even after two penalty turns and a capsize; Race 4 : first Dusty Miller again, second Bob Marshall, Taffy the Gun (Evans) gave Dusty a shock by having a misfire—no ' g u n ' at the finish usually means disqualification; race 5: first Dusty yet again, second Brigadier Richard Cooke. Photo Captain M. Parsons. Apprentice Mark Hoe receiving his first prize from Mrs Callan after winning the crew's race at the recent RAOC regatta. Major Andy Robertson and W/Privare Sharon James with Captain Tony Brown and Sergeant Paul Wilkie in the background. The wind howled, and rain turned to hail. Masts began to fall. Captain Tony Brown was towed home after his second dismasting in the regatta, but our Vice Commodore, Colonel Roy Carruthers, sailed home unperturbed under jury rig (an oar and piece of sail held aloft by Trisha Conder). Captain Jeremy Parsons and his crew Private Ian Lashmar (a volunteer from the stalwart recruit platoon providing admin support) twice bailed out a completely swamped boat and Colonel John Gregan actually finished with his gunwales awash. Race 6: first Colonel John Gregan and his son John, second Dusty Miller. Major Roger Dace got his third successive third place. Day 3, race 7: first Major Jim Ashcroft, second Major Roger Dace, Dusty Miller, now unbeatable, relaxed a bit and came third! The last races of days 2 and 3 were for the crews to try their skill at the helm: Crews race 1: first Lieutenant Colonel Tony Sharpe, second Apprentice Mark Hoe, Ten boats sailed hut one retired with broken gear. Crews race 2: first Keith Marshall, second Joe Merrishaw. During this race the wind reached its peak, and the sea became covered with blown spume. Gale conditions! Tony Sharpe did a spectacular double capsize and still finished tenth of the eleven who finished, After lunch Mrs Callan kindly presented the prizes: first and Helmsman"* Cup (best overall): Mr Miller crewed by Mrs Miller (Si-pts); second and Commodore's Cup (best serving jo'dicr); Major Dace crewed by Lieutenant Colonel Sharpe (15$-prs); third Major Ashcroft crewed by Sergeant Merrishaw j2U-pts); fourth Mr R. Marshall crewed by Mr K. Marshall U3-pts). The Minogue Trophy for the best Unit couplet: Bicester * (just beating Deepcut A). These were the experts but most congratulations must go to those acquatic heroes of lesser expertise who braved the con- ditions, particularly W/Private Sharon James winner of the Young Soldiers Cup. And the crews' race winners: Apprentice Hoe first with S-pts; W02 Connolly second with 8-pts; Lieu- tenant Colonel Sharpe third with 101-pts. Our Admiral, Major General Callan, then presented Corps Colours to Captain Mike Harris and Lance Corporal Tony Long. For most this was the end of the regatta. However, ten stalwarts undertook to race five boats back to Stokes Bay—out in the Solent proper. Four boats arrived safely and Mrs Callan (who with the Committee took the longer but drier route by road) presented token prizes to Lieutenant Colonel Miles Wilson and Major Andy Robertson (first despite nearly overshooting the landing area), Captain Colin Fuller and Private Burrows (second despite an inversion en route), and Major Boyd Squires and Miss Susan Douglas-Hill (third after * the best sail of the week'!). Captain Carl and Apprentice Mark Hoe came fourth despite being a mile in the lead at one time (over-confidence!). After some worry, delay and helicopter scrambling Sergeant Len Salisbury and W02 John Mallet announced their safe arrival on the Isle of Wight! Thanks are due to those who manned the touch-lines: Brigadier Gordon Dennison and retired Majors Harry Potts and James Michelli who ran the bridge; Major Edward Conder who organised the races and splashed with Staff Sergeant Ken Foskett or Lance Corporal Keith Matthews (the REME B'Swain) in the Safety Boat; Lance Corporal Taffy Evans our gunner; Corporal 1 Roy Small our B Swain (his promotion at the regatta was not cheap!); above all thanks are due to Major Trevor Douglas-Hill and the indefatigable Gibraltar Platoon of newly trained soldiers who provided such admirable administrative backing whilst also supporting the sailors in launching and recovering boats (a wet and back-breaking job). Especially to be congratulated are the cooks who managed to fit their culinary skills around the whims of wind, tide and the Race Committee. nr nr ^r nr - CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING IT is proposed to reform the RAOC Cross Country team for the season 1978/79. A limited number of fixtures in UK are being arranged and a provisional tour to BAOR in November/ December is under consideration. A trial is to take place at Deepcut on 24th October for all interested runners who wish to gain selection for the Corps team and BAOR tour- Details will be available from the Secretary. Major C. J. Morton, DSM(A) Donnington (Donnington Ext 519), Entry for the trial is free and entries can be accepted on the day, prior notification would be appreciated. Details will be circulated to known Cross Country Units. 107 — |
| Book number | R0247 |