A Raters storm ahead with Hyde Sails

A Raters storm ahead with Hyde Sails © Hyde Sails

A Raters storm ahead with Hyde Sails © Hyde Sails

Hyde has supplied sails to a number of the stunning high-masted A-Raters, which race primarily on the River Thames, with some great results so far this season...

In the Thames Champion Cup and Dunn cup, Atlantis (No15) finished second overall using a new Hyde jib. Meanwhile, Jonathan Smith's Scamp (No12) finished fourth overall with a complete new Suit of Hyde sails. Scamp was also second in the Thames A Rater Queens Cup and first in the Thames A Rater Vintage Trophy.

Scamp celebrates her 107th birthday this year, and owner Jonathan Smith has owned the boat for 30 years. He explains: "I started in Merlin Nationals as a teenager, and campaigned a Contessa 32 at Cowes to second place for the week.

I also did a few Ultra events, but nothing really compares to the precision which is required when stream, wind, team and boat all have to come together on the Thames."

Jonathan describes A Rater sailing as "A real physical challenge which tests the team's (three people) abilities to the utmost. The river is often busy, and you have to tack often for the banks, so there is an incredible amount of concentration required over long periods of time - if you get it too wrong it can be disastrous!"

The starts can be entertaining too: "Putting anything up to 16 26ft boats on a short start line breaks all of the rules before you even enter!" He adds: "Doing 15 knots in a 5mph speed limit area is often highly entertaining, it's local, so we can race after work and it's a social, mainly amateur environment, where the focus is on fun."

This season, the Scamp team aims to compete in the China Bowl at Thames Sailing Club in June and Tamesis Club in September, as well as regular Tuesday evening and Sunday morning sailing.

For more details on Hyde Sails and the one-design classes the company is involved with, see www.hydesails.com