Racing is classy at Dell Quay and Chichester

A good turnout of 11 visitors joined nine local boats for some very close racing.

Race one got under way with a clean start. Simon Horsfield and Jessica Hunter (Army Sailing Association) rounded the mark first to take an early lead, pursued by Richard and Ian Hudson (Bough Beech Sailing Club) and Rob and Sarah Burridge (Weir Wood SC).

The Burridges worked through to take the win from the Hudsons with Wade/Burridge rounding out the top three.

Race two, with a significantly-weaker tide, revealed a fleet much more confident in attacking the start line. Lee and Max Sydenham (Dell Quay SC) led around the first mark and held on to the lead for three laps before being passed by the fast-charging Burridges.

The Sydenhams retook the lead on the next upwind leg before difficulties at the top of the course allowed the Burridges to extend away. The Sydenhams were chased hard but held on to take second from Horsfield/Hunter.

Race three began in a strengthening wind gusting to 20mph, allowing the race to run ten laps.

The Cockerills put up a strong fight but the Burridges held on to complete a clean sweep with their third win of the day, leaving Chris and Jill Jordan (Burghfield SC) to pick up third place.

A fleet of tired sailors returned to the shore for Dell Quay Sailing Club’s legendary cakes and to compare stories on the sun-baked balcony. Overall, Rob and Sarah Burridge took a well-deserved victory ahead of Steve and Sarah Cockerill with Lee and Max Sydenham third.

CHICHESTER

The 2016 Chichester Yacht Club Solo and Europe open was held on the first warm weekend of the year.

There were 34 entries for the Solo open from across the south-east.

Race one, after a general recall, was led by Chichester YC’s Ian Barnett from early on, retaining it through the race, local knowledge on tides helping.

There was fierce competition for the next few places with Vince Horey (King George/HISC) second and Martin Frary third. Anthony Osman was leading CYC boat in race one with fifth place.
Race two saw close racing throughout the fleet. Nick Bonner (Hamble River) was second behind Frary but Horey passed him.

Frary was first, Horey second and Bonner third. Richard Anderton, not a regular Solo sailor, was the leading CYC boat in sixth place sailing a borrowed boat.

Race three had Frary once again got a dominating lead and finished in first place. Horey was second and Anderton third.

Final results - 1 Martin Frary, 2 Vince Horey, 3 Ian McGregor, 4 Richard Anderton, Gordon Barclay was first Septimus.

Winners were presented with some great Rooster kit.

The second Europe open of the year was held alongside the Solo open.

Two visitors from Weston SC – Emma Pearson and Ellen Clancy – joined local sailors.

In race one Lucy Boreham managed the shifty conditions up the first beat best to take a narrow lead from Clancy at the windward mark, while Pearson and Geoff Newman finding a few holes in the wind dropped behind. These positions remained with Bonham winning.

In the second race, Boreham made the best of the shifts to take the lead at the gybe mark and carried it into the finish.

Race three was a close affair but Bonham won it.

Thanks went to Chichester YC and the Solo fleet for letting the Europes join the open. Sailors had a wonderful day’s sailing and dned with a CYC tea and prizegiving.
Final places: 1st Lucy Boreham (Chichester YC); 2 Ellen Clancy (Weston SC); 3 Emma Pearson (Weston SC).

ITCHENOR

Itchenor Sailing Club again opens its doors to the public on Sunday for its annual open day, part of the Royal Yachting Association’s Push The Boat Out scheme.

Push The Boat Out is seeing hundreds of sailing clubs nationwide host open days and invite communities to experience sailing.

Itchenor is one of the many offering people an opportunity to learn more about the sailing classes available, training courses and membership benefits as well as the chance to experience being out on the water in Chichester Harbour.

The club’s expert sailors will offer ‘learn to sail’ taster sessions in dinghies including Mirrors, Toppers and the Laser Vision. There will be club racing in XOD, Swallow, Sunbeam, Mirror, Topper, International 14, RS200, and Laser classes. Visitors will be able to go afloat in one of many spectator boats and experience the thrill of racing up-close.

Visitors can also make use of the beautiful clubhouse and waterfront lawn to enjoy lunch and refreshments. There will be members and staff on hand to chat through membership options.

Charles Hyatt, club commodore, said: “We are excited to once again be part of the RYA’s Push The Boat Out event and look forward to welcoming local residents to our sailing club.”

The event starts at 9.30am and entry is free.

Please pre-register now to reserve your place so the club can allocate enough boats and members. Call 01243 512400 or complete a form at www.itchenorsc.co.uk

For more information on RYA Push The Boat Out visit www.rya.org.uk/go/ptbo

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