Being in the middle of a heatwave, it seemed an ideal time to hold our barbecue at Coldham Hall, courtesy of the sailing club there.  However, this being Britain, it rained...  This was not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of around 15 members who gathered with their picnic chairs, bangers and burgers to enjoy a very sociable evening.  Anthony Knights was also celebrating a recent birthday with a zero at the end and Jan had kindly brought Pimms and cup cakes for everyone to enjoy, before and after their meal respectively.  It was an excellent evening.

The next day saw the annual Challenge Cup between YSC and CHSC, with seven entries this year.  One was on provisional, so became the discard, leaving three each side.  Vixen and Puck had to sail for YSC, not being CHSC members and they were joined by Commodore Bill Clark on Morning Calm.  Coldham Hall were represented by Anna, Glory and Valkyrie II.  It was quite breezy but nevertheless the crew of Vixen were bemused to realise on the start line that they were the only boat which hadn't reefed.  Some had two reefs in.

It was mostly a reaching race and the fleet was sent down to the old site of the infamous yellow ribbons, later replaced by a stile and now being a short length of fence.  Vixen arrived at the turn first, although Glory was hot on her heels, the two boats having swapped leads several times as they sailed downriver.  Vixen managed to hold her lead back to the finish at Coldham, although it was close at the end with only seven seconds between them on the water.  Anna finished third, followed by Morning Calm.  Valkyrie II shook out their reefs during the race, but it was not soon enough to benefit them fully.

With the exception of Fair Lady II on her provisional handicap, who nominally finished in second place on corrected time, the finishing order was also the order on corrected time.  Although Vixen won the race and the Bessie Bell Trophy, Glory in second place took the Challenge Cup on behalf of Coldham Hall, who won by 10 points to 11.  This was their first win since 2016, so they must have been pleased to break their losing streak.