Regatta is a hit at Dell Quay... school sailors flock to Itchenor

Dell Quay's annual regatta took place unseasonal weather, comprising a gusty wind and occasional heavy showers.
One of the many sailors enjoying the Dell Quay Sailing Club regatta / Picture by Chris HattonOne of the many sailors enjoying the Dell Quay Sailing Club regatta / Picture by Chris Hatton
One of the many sailors enjoying the Dell Quay Sailing Club regatta / Picture by Chris Hatton

Nearly 50 boats entered, mostly dinghies but with a good number of keelboats from Itchenor.

Participation in the medium handicap race was as much about family participation as competitive racing.  The Morley family were out in their Wanderer dinghy and the Sparkes in their larger Topaz Omega.

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While not among the prizewinners it was great to see the ‘Spirit of Dell Quay’ so evident, with families joining in with enthusiasm. 

First prize went to old CYC friends Nick and Biddy Colbourne, sailing their new GP14, followed by Chris Wood (Streaker) and Colin Pullinger sailing the club RS Vision with James Presley.

Only four RS400s entered the fast handicap race, led from start to finish by Simon and Ben Townsend from TBD. Gideon and Gilly Ewers took second place with Chris Rowsell and Sam Mogridge third. Positions remained unchanged throughout.

In the 2000 race, it was soon clear Jon Townsend and Barbara Langford (TBD) were pulling ahead with the Dell Quay 2000s in pursuit. Peter and Jane Matthews led the pursuit, narrowly avoiding a capsize. Sarah and Martin Greenhalgh were not so lucky and in they went. The water and weed was warmer than the rain so they sailed on.

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A mixed but enjoyable race ended with Townsend and Langford taking first prize, the Matthews second and the Greenhalghs third.

In the Solo race, one boat retired after the first lap, leaving Roger Millett (CYC), Roger Puttock (Dell Quay) and David Swift (Dell Quay) to battle it out for the three remaining places.

Millett had a good start and pulled out a lead in the strengthening wind. Puttock and Swift kept in touch and closed the gap. On the second lap Puttock overhauled Millett and, after a close battle, finished first, followed closely by Millett with Swift a little further behind. 

All contestants celebrated their victories and licked their wounds over the splendid Dell Quay Regatta tea.

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Results: Dinghies - Slow Handicap: 1 Sam and Simon Tonks, 2 Vee and Samuel Tanks, 3 Lizzie Kies; Medium Handicap: 1 Nick and Biddy Colbourne (CYC), 2 Chris Wood, 3 Colin Pullinger and James Presley; Fast Handicap: 1 Simon and Ben Townsend (TBD), 2 Gideon and Gilly Ewers, 3 Chris Rowsell and Sam Mogridge; Laser: 1 Martyn Jones, 2 Sue Manning, 3 Jasper McGurry. 2000: 1 Jon Townsend and Barbara Langford (TBD), 2 Peter and Jane Matthews, 3 Sarah and Martin Greenhalgh; Solo: 1 Roger Puttock, 2 Roger Millet (CYC), 3 David Swift. Keel Boats (Itchenor: National Swallow: 1 Martin Green and Eliz Pattison, 2 Peter Snell and Debbie Crisp, Solent Sunbeam: 1 Roger Wickens and Tim Martell, 2 Mike Weston, Mike Jeffries and Richard Kendall, 3 Richard Pearson, Sarah Pearson and Richard Kendall; XOD: 1 Al Ashford, 2 John Long, Tina Scott and Marj Greig, 3 David Palmer and Nicola Cook.

ITCHENOR

A record number of young sailors descended on Itchenor Sailing Club for the 64th Schools Sailing Championships, sponsored by MPI Brokers and JDX Consulting.

On Sunday, 105 entries from 40 schools arrived for Fevas training day. The 13-14-year-olds were greeted with glorious weather and a welcome message from Ben Saxton, one of two Itchenor members representing GB at the Rio Olympics.

On Monday, Hayling College’s Henry and Rupert Jameson led the fleet with Churcher’s College duo Louis Wright and Jamie Allen, Ditcham Park (Finley Dickinson and Tom Gorringe) and Portsmouth Grammar School’s Henry Chandler and Louis Johnson also in the leading pack.

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These schools dominated most races throughout the day with the Jameson brothers coming out on top following another win in the final race.

Tuesday’s racing began with a ten-knot breeze that built all day. The top of the fleet was highly competitive with Hayling College just one point ahead of Portsmouth Grammar School. As the final race counted down Jameson and Jameson triggered too early and picked up an OCS leaving Portsmouth Grammar School needing a third or better to win the regatta. The PGS team of Chandler and Johnson got a bullet to win the championship by two points.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it was the turn of the Fireflies and 420s, sailed by mostly 15 and 16-year-olds.

The senior championships got under way with 39 Fireflies and six 420s from 17 schools.

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Thursday saw superb racing with six races completed for each class. Julian Fung and William Jacken of Rugby School showed early pace to take the first race win for the Fireflies. They were challenged all the way by Gabriel Ing and Primrose Barker from Magdalen College School who won the second race, whilst Tonbridge’s Dom Lewis and Oscar Wright took race three.

The breeze increased to 15 knots with strong gusts which caused a few capsizes, but Alex Baxter and Ben Nicoll, representing Bartholomew School, showed great speed to win two races, although RGS Guildford’s Patrick Croghan and James Dickinson capped a strong day to lead overall.

In the 420s, Ben Childerley and Nick Burt of Sherborne Boys’ took first overall following four race wins with another Sherborne boat – Harry Guy and Timo Malikou – in second

On the final day of Itchenor Schools’ Week both the Firefly and 420 fleets managed four more races in 15 knots from the south west.

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In the Firefly fleet, Bartholomew’s Baxter and Nicoll showed blistering upwind speed to win the first race, but the RGS Guildford team completed a superb series to count nothing below third place and take the Sir Richard Fairey Trophy for first spot.

In the 420s, Childerley and Burt discarded two third places to count only race wins.

Charles Hyatt, Ccommodore at Itchenor SC, said: “We’re proud to be able to continue our support of schools sailing. The increasing numbers and the quality of the competition attest to the strength of sailing in schools across the country. I would like to thank our sponsors for their support and the many club members who make this event possible.”

CHICHESTER

The Midsummer Frolic is the second of Chichester Yacht Club’s new weekend series and its two days brought very different conditions.

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Ian Lissamore, celebrating his 70th birthday, was race officer and started proceedings from the water on club boat Jaffa.

Following a restart the short course proved challenging because of light winds and a considerable amount of weed.

After day one the fast/modern fleet leaders were Chris Grosscurth and Emma York in their RS400, with Roger Millet (Solo) leading the medium/classic fleet.

By day two the wind had moved south-westerly and built in strength.

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In race three the front of the fast fleet saw a nip-and-tuck battle between the RS400s of Grosscurth and York with Millet and Andy Clare.

Grosscurth and York overtook Team Clare on the last lap. On handicap the RS400s were pushed down the fleet by the 2000s, with Helen and Mark Green first and Michael and Paula Olliff second.

Race four, said to be some of the best racing of the summer so far, was won by Team Clare. Overall winners were Grosscurth and York.

In the medium/classic fleet Nick and Biddy Colbourne (GP14) took two first places, overtaking many of the boats in the fast fleet.

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Roger Millet took a second in race three to lead overall. In race three Mark Harper (Solo) beat Ian Lissamore by less than a second for third place, going on to a third in race four when Ian Payne (Laser) sped into second.

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