A buzzing July and August at Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club

By Carol Carter on 15 Aug 2009

Competitors during Junior Week at Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club

Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club, Hayling Island, has been buzzing in July and August with three well-supported open events.

The first big event was the Rowans Open Pursuit Race on Sunday 12th July. A forecast of a strong breeze reduced the number of entries from previous years, but 24 boats braved the elements and started the race, including 6 boats from Hayling Island Sailing Club. The sailors made donations to enter the race and with the proceeds from a tombola, a raffle, a craft stall, lunch and afternoon tea, £775 was raised for the hospice.

A club start provided entertainment for spectators who watched the 24 boats start the race at staggered times according to their handicap. The course was set in Chichester Harbour and with moderate to fresh wind it proved to be a challenge for most of the sailors.

The Rowans Trophy, which was designed and made by Nicola Hopwood who made the stained glass window for the chapel at the Hospice, was won by John Tremlett from MRSC in a Finn with Neil Robinson, also from MRSC and sailing a Finn, second. The Travellers Trophy was won by John Rees and Dan Mountifield from HISC in a Merlin Rocket and second, in a Flying Fifteen from HISC, were Gill Browning and Roger Houston.

Ann Kent, MRSC member who organised the event said, “We are particularly grateful to all the club members, visitors and competitors who have supported this Pursuit Race over the last ten years and to the local businesses that have donated items for the raffles. Since this sailing event was first organised in 2000, MRSC has donated over £5,800 to the Rowans Hospice raised during the pursuit races, two craft fairs and other social events.”

The next major event was the club’s Junior Week, 3rd to 7th August, which attracted 86 young sailors in 79 boats, including 21 visitors. The events were split into 3 fleets recognising the different sailing abilities. The courses were set in Chichester Harbour with the more experienced sailors in Red Fleet sailing over Pilsey Sands and the Blue Fleet sailing over West Mud. The Gold Fleet for novices had a very varied week to include basic race training, a long distance sail to Northney and a mini series in the quiet waters in front of the club house.

Joanna Lewis, who organised the event said, “The conditions throughout the week were near perfect, though some members of the Red Fleet would have like the challenge of a little more breeze. We were particularly grateful to local sponsors Fat Face and Focus Watersports who donated prizes and Wickham Estate who donated wine for the volunteer race team.”

Junior Week Results:

Red Fleet
Fast H’cap - David Bruce, Laser, (BLYM)
Laser 4.7 – 1st Anthony Parke
Tera – 1st Stefan Search (MRSC)
Slow H’cap – Lawrance Message & Joe Cox, Feva XL, (HISC)

Blue Fleet
Handicap – 1st Anna Prescott & Katie Prescott, Feva, (LSC)
Optimist – 1st Joshua Boniface (MRSC)
Tera – 1st Isobel Lewis (MRSC)

Gold Fleet
Optimist – 1st Miles Nelson (HISC)

The fine weather on 9th August attracted 117 starters to the Club’s annual Open Regatta and, with a light southerly sea breeze, a course was set across Pilsey Sands. The position of the windward mark in a strong flood tide created difficulties for competitors and many places were won and lost there. The light breeze caused the course to be shortened for some classes.

Open Regatta Results:

Assymetric H’cap - 1st Andrew & Vicky Gould, ISO, (ESSC)
Flying Fifteen – 1st Mike & Caroline McIntyre (HISC)
Fast H’cap – 1st David Sayce & Graham Williamson, Merlin, (HISC)
Finn – 1st John Tremlett (MRSC)
Medium H’cap – 1st David & Chris Hitchcock, RS200, (HISC)
Laser Radials – 1st Imogen Barnett (MRSC)
Solo – 1st Natham Rushin (HISC)
Feva – 1st Mia Lewis & Libby Chatterton-Dickson (MRSC)
Slow H’cap- 1st Ann Kent, Comet, (MRSC)
Teras – 1st Alex Butler (MRSC)

More information on the Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club website.