Spring's perfect time for a fling for Chichester sailors

The first of Chichester Yacht Club's new weekend series '“ The Spring Fling '“ was held in a stiff northerly breeze.
Spring Fling racing at Chichester YCSpring Fling racing at Chichester YC
Spring Fling racing at Chichester YC

Despite unseasonably chilly air and water temperatures, there was a good turnout. 
In the fast/modern fleet, Saturday’s racing was led off by Phil Allen in his International Canoe. He sped round the course, showing his skill in this single-handed asymmetric spinnaker boat.

On handicap he dropped down the leaderboard while Nick and Roger Elliman in their RS400 showed their expertise with three first places to lead at the end of day one – with Chris Hodge and Louise Varley (2000) second and Helen and Mark (2000) third.

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On day two the Varleys took two first places on handicap from the Ellimans, with the Ellimans getting a final first place in the last race. Mike Linney and Giles Dixon took a couple of third places adding to a third from day one.

Final places: 1 Nick & Roger Elliman (RS400), 2 Chris Hodge & Louise Varley (2000), 3 Helen & Mark Green (2000), 4 Mike Linney & Chris Day/Giles Dixon.

The classic/medium fleet saw a large turnout of Solos alongside Lasers and a Europe. The only two-man boat was a GP14.

In race one Charlie Porter’s was the only boat to complete three laps and he took first. Then in race two the Colbournes, back from warmer racing in the Caribbean, had a fast race and were first.

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Ian Payne got the best of the wind to get well ahead on the water in race three to take first place.

Porter took another two first places, with the Colbournes wining the final race.

Ian Lissamore sneaked in three second places in his Solo.

Final places: 1 Charlie Porter (Laser), 2 Nick & Biddy Colbourne (GP14), 3 Ian Lissamore (Solo), 4 Ian Payne (Laser).

In the slow fleet, Susannah Olliff and Ella Brocks were the sole competitors in their RS Feva.

DELL QUAY

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In the first race of the Dell Quay evening series the RS400 of Rob Corfield and Tom Dobbs were in the lead early on, closely followed around by the 2000 of Lee Sydenham and his youngest son Alex.

The two double-handed boats stayed in these positions for the rest of the race closely followed by a group of solos.

The Sydenhams were clear leaders when the results were adjusted for handicap, with the Solo of David Maltby just beating David Swift to second place.

Weather conditions were ideal for races three and four of the Early Helm series and ten boats started the first race, led by the RS400 of Rob Corfield and Peter King, following a figure-of-eight course.

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Corfield and King were first to cross the finish line with the second RS400 of Chris Rowsell a minute behind. After handicaps had been applied, first place went to Gordon Barclay (Solo) with Andrew Buchanan (Finn) second and John Purdy (Solo) third.

In the second race, Barclay kept up his winning form to take first place again, followed once more by Buchanan but with Fred Hilgers (Solo) beating Purdy to third.

Purdy continues to lead the series with Gideon and Gilly Ewers (RS400) second and Rob Corfield third. Races four and five take place on Saturday, May 28 (4pm).

ITCHENOR

Thirty boats enjoyed classic sailing conditions at the RS200 spring championships at Itchenor Sailing Club – one of the biggest events on the RS200 calendar.

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A loose slot gasket meant one boat never made it to the start line, but for the rest of the teams, race officer Bruce Grant did a fantastic job getting eight very efficient races away in a shifty northerly.

It looked as though the current might be the order of the day as two thirds of the fleet was swept over in race one, resulting in a general recall. The black flag kept most sailors in check for the rest of the day.

The positioning of the course across two channels meant there were a variety of routes to take up the beat and a multitude of different theories about which was best.

There were gains to be made by local knowledge as George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby won race two and Andy Shaw and Pippa Horne won race four.

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Will and Mary Henderson were the most consistent on day one with four top fives, but Matt Mee and Emma Norris held the lead overnight with two firsts and a second.

Sunday saw a few misjudging the tide and dragging buoys down the run with them.

Mee and Norris again took command on the results sheet, winning the event with a race to spare. Second to ninth were separated by just 14 points, testament to the high-quality close racing that is the trademark of Itchenor and RS200 sailing.

Results: 1 Burghfield SC/Red Wharf Bay (Matt Mee and Emma Norris); 2 Itchenor SC (Will And Mary Henderson); 3 Itchenor SC (George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby).

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* Read of more Itchenor SC success in the Chichester Observer - out tomorrow (May 12)

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