Bitter blow for sailors: Chichester Harbour Race Week called off

Chichester Harbour Race Week, the biggest sailing event in the harbour and one of the UK's most important dinghy regattas, is the latest local sporting victim of Covid-19.
By Liz Sagues
Published 24th Jun 2020, 15:00 BST
Action at last year's harbour race week / Picture: Chris HattonAction at last year's harbour race week / Picture: Chris Hatton
Action at last year's harbour race week / Picture: Chris Hatton

The week, planned this year for August 17-21, would have seen hundreds of dinghies racing in the open waters just inside the mouth of the harbour.

But its organiser, Chichester Harbour Federation Regatta Committee, has decided that running such a complex and major event safely will not be possible "while fulfilling our social responsibility to provide a duty of care to both competitors and volunteers by restricting the spread of the virus".

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Regatta Committee chairman Greg Wells added: "CHRW is not just about the racing. It is also is a week of camaraderie, socials and fun for everyone. We invite everyone to come back next year when we plan to make CHRW 2021 a very special event."

Race week up close last year / Picture: Chris HattonRace week up close last year / Picture: Chris Hatton
Race week up close last year / Picture: Chris Hatton

The date for Race Week 2021 is August 9-13.

Race Week 2020 had been due to expand its format, including cruiser racing in Hayling Bay for three of the five days.

And dinghy classes were to have been split into two rather than three series, giving youngsters sailing Tera Sports a chance to sail on a somewhat bigger course.

Details of the 2021 event will be at chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net.

Related topics:Covid-19