New Sailing Territory
Published 00:00 on 10 Nov 2026
Hurlingham, Battersea Heliport, Putney Bridge, Imperial Wharf, the Wandle River….definitely not the usual sights we see when dinghy sailing from our club at Hammersmith but on a gorgeous bright autumn Saturday morning and for the very first time, we joined our friends at Ranelagh SC for one of their scheduled downriver races from Putney to explore this new part of the River Thames.
The start was from the RSC line at Putney Hard at midday and an early departure from our beach at Hammersmith meant that our fleet of 8 dinghies - three X boats, an Enterprise and four ILCAs - accompanied by our safety boat arrived nicely on time for the briefing around 15 minutes beforehand.
A lot was new for Corinthian sailors - the start and finish line for one thing, which was set from the RSC clubhouse located in amongst the long line of rowing clubs in this 'home' of Thames rowing. And then the whole idea of a down and back race timed around Low Water was another…. so how would that work?!
Having done this many times before, Mathieu, Ranelagh's Race Officer, advised the plan was to sail the last of the ebb tide as far as it would take us at which point an accompanying committee boat would set a buoy at dead low water which the dinghies would round and return on the early part of flood.
So, with everyone briefed, the fleet of fourteen boats set off soon after midday. The light easterly wind and east going tide added up to create beautiful upwind sailing conditions.
Racing under bridges was also a new experience for Corinthians with the first one coming up almost immediately - Putney Bridge. The challenge was to avoid the lower sides of the arches and then work out….was the wind blowing in quite different directions each side?...or was it accelerating right through the middle?
Then it was further on under Fulham Rail Bridge and through the central arch of Wandsworth Bridge, taking care now to avoid the Uber Clipper boats that ply this part of the Thames - undoubtedly a new and significant sailing hazard for Corinthians.
Just before arriving at Battersea Rail Bridge the tide appeared to have stopped and so the mark was laid with the first boat - an X1 sailed by Martin, Tim & Livia - rounding it and starting to head back in the now very light downwind conditions.
More boats followed and the X's with spinnakers hoisted pulled away from most of the fleet aside from a well sailed Laser and Solo from Ranelagh and a well sailed Laser from LCSC with Kayleigh aboard.
Some of the later boats noticed the tide had turned against them before approaching the mark and then on the return leg, with the wind and tidal sum now subtracting, found conditions were slow.
Yes, very slow.
But on a stunning sunny October day, all things considered, it wasn't a bad place to be… in the very middle of the River Thames sailing along Battersea Reach with the tide and wind gently pulling the boat back home.
Were those ashore nearby sat fuming at the endless traffic jams along York Road…..or exasperated by the totally packed out 12.32 train from Wandsworth Town to Waterloo…..or going ballistic at their local coffee barista for messing up their favourite chocca/mocca/matcha/skinny latte?
Who knows?
But those afloat with not a care in the world save for keeping those tell-tales flying, balancing the boat nicely and looking for the next wind ahead….. were just fine.
Arrivals back across the line at Putney were met with a welcoming hooter and after briefly going ashore to collect themselves the eight Corinthian boats continued their way back, safely making it under Hammersmith Bridge before the tide had risen too far.
Huge thanks to Stefan and Antti for crewing the safety boat, to John and Alistair for the organisation, and especially to Mathieu, Richard and friends at Ranelagh Sailing Club for having us along….a Halloween thank you bottle of wine was handed over in appreciation of a fine day out.
We will do this again!
Chris WI
Last updated 11:15 on 10 November 2026