SAILING.

WOODEN BOATS 100 YEARS OLD HOLD OFF MODERN RIVALS.

The historic Thames `A' Raters of Thames Sailing Club head upriver today (Friday, May 22) for next week's 111th Bourne End sailing week, which promises to be one of the most competitive for years.

Bourne End Week, held at Upper Thames SC near Marlow, started in 1887, and is still the premier sailing event on the Thames. It caters for several boat classes but has always been particularly associated with the speedy Thames `A' Raters, which although first developed in the late 19th century, remain the fastest boats on the river.

With their huge 46ft masks and 350 sq ft plus sail area the 27ft long Raters are a familiar summer sight racing from Thames Sailing Club at Surbiton. Their huge sails make them exciting and challenging boats for the three person crews. Most remarkable of all, many original wooden Raters still survive and can compete on equal terms with more recent glass-fibre versions.

Indeed last year the 1903 built Caprice took most of the prizes, including the most sought-after, the Queen's Cup, presented by Queen Victoria in 1893. The extensively restored Caprice also took the Thames Champion Cup for best overall boat. Caprice, helmed by Olympic yachting bronze medal winner Ossie Stewart, will be a front runner this year, but in the face of growing competition will find it hard to repeat last year's feats.

One of the toughest challenges should come from Spindrift, helmed by Rob Cage, a former European champion in the ISO class. He and his crew did well last year and have now re-decked and lightened the glass-fibre Spindrift, making it even quicker.

Another refurbished boat is Lady Jane, being helmed this year by Jonathan Smith, one of the class's fastest sailors. His brother Julian Smith, helming Atlantis, will also as usual be a real frontrunner. A leading helm in the Etchells class, Julian is a frequent Bourne End winner.

Vagabond, built in 1908, and helmed by Miles Palmer, has also got a formidable recent racing record after its restoration, and along with Caprice is currently the fastest of the old wooden boats.

But much interest centres on the newest boat, the fibre-glass Bonito, which is facing a race to be ready in time. With its state of the art layout and helmed by the competitive Martin Hunter it should be a real contender if it arrives.

The Rate Association captain, Paul Browning, himself a front of fleet sailor with Osprey, said, "This should be a great week. Some people have been putting a lot of effort into the Raters over the winter.

It just shows that the class, despite its age, is in a very healthy state."

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