MOLESEY VETERAN HEAD 2009
Re-arranged Race Date is Sunday March
1st 2009
Start at noon
Safety Briefing at 10 am at Molesey
Boat Club
WEATHER AND STREAM CONDITIONS
The committee’s policy regarding fast stream conditions is to
take a view on the day before the race and announce whether the race will go
ahead or not at mid-day.
One factor
will be current speed past Molesey Boat Club and this will be determined by a
STICK TEST. If a stick thrown into the centre of the stream takes 30 seconds or
less to pass the 117 feet from the launch mooring post to the green barrier the
race may be cancelled, if more than 60 seconds there is likely to be no
problem. Dividing the time taken in seconds into 80 converts this to miles per
hour e.g 24 seconds equals 3.22 mph.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28th
THE RACE IS ON! Stick Test now at one minute 40
seconds = a current of 0.57 mph. A cloudy/bright day is forecast without rain,
temperature 11 degrees Celsius. ESE wind at 11 kph
will mean a cross/head wind on the course and a sheltered marshalling area next
to the Surrey bank.
Friday February 27th
EA advises that the whole river is now off
stream boards and has given the OK for the race on Sunday. The stick test at
Molesey shows one minute 20 seconds = 1.06 mph. And it is a lovely sunny day
today with temperature at 12 degrees C. There will be one final update
tomorrow.
Thursday February 26th
Much the same as
yesterday. Temperature around 10C/51F. River calm.
Wednesday February 25th
There are no stream warnings today on the
Molesey Reach or the Sunbury Reach, and most of the reaches above are showing
stream decreasing. Molesey weir has only 4 sluices drawn. There is very little
current. However it is a bit chilly and there is a light wind.
Tuesday February 24th
Most of the river is now off stream boards
altogether and the locks are being closed down. At Molesey the stick test this
morning was 90 seconds thus the river is hardly moving. The EA is not expecting
any rainfall over the next few days. So conditions are looking good for Sunday.
Saturday February 22nd
Beautiful clear day. Stream
now on yellow board and decreasing. Rowing now back to normal at
Molesey. Daily updates each day from now on in anticipation of the new race
date of March 1st.
Friday February 13th 2009
We are meeting today at noon to assess river
conditions and consulting the Environment Agency. We will advise the situation
shortly after that.
The current speed was still at 23 seconds with
all 15 sluice gates on the weir fully open. EA advice was not to hold the event
as there was no prospect of anything changing on the river. The event has been
postponed to Sunday March 1st with a start time of noon. OARA is
being adjusted on Monday to allow you to either leave your entries in or
withdraw or substitute them. This postponement has been shown on the front
pages of the club and regatta website since 1.30 on Friday.
Thursday February 12th
Bright and cold again. The flow on the river
has increased to a stick test of 23 seconds or 3.5 mph. All gates on the weir
are open. The level is dropping and a lot of water is leaving the system.
Our final check will come at around 1 pm on Friday.
Wednesday February 11th
Bright and cold, no rain since yesterday.
River now at 30 seconds on the stick test, and all 15 sluice gates open on the
weir. The water level is normal.
Tuesday February 10th
Well! Red boards went up on Monday afternoon.
In the morning the stick test was over 60 seconds. The overnight rain has
stopped now and the forecast is reasonably clear of rain for the rest of the week.
The event is still five days away. Stick test was 25 seconds, 13 out of 15
sluices open.
Saturday February 7th
Rather a cold day but sunny with a north
westerly wind blowing. Red Boards are up on the reach, but only just. 7 sluices
are open on the weir out of a possible 15. The stick test registered 50 seconds
or 1.6 mph.
Monday January 5th
No stream to speak of, but bitterly cold with
a light easterly wind. Club rowing continues as normal.