Chichester Yacht Club Regatta

Shark (well maybe a dogfish) during the Chichester Yacht Club Regatta © Keith Russell

The weather forecast was not great, with winds from N/NE at Force 2-3 and some rain. It did not deter the sailors, and a good fleet turned out, with 37 dinghies from CYC and other clubs, and 42 keelboats from Itchenor SC.

The keelboats started first from Itchenor, with the Swallows at 11.00, Sunbeams and XODs at 5 minute intervals thereafter. They headed down towards the harbour entrance against the tide, returning to finish at the CYC Committee boat moored in Chichester Lake.

First of the Swallows was S82 Marengo, helmed by Carolyn Brigg, crewed by Sue Glover & George Miller. In 2nd place was S3 Skua, with Harry Roome & David Arnold, and in 3rd S88 Darter, helmed by Tony Glover.

The Sunbeam fleet was led by V26 Danny, sailed by Roger Wickens & David Melville. They were followed by V17 Comedy, with Barry Sampson & Robert Bailey, and V6 Little Lady helmed by Gayle Palmer with Christina Darby.

Leading the XODs home was X160, helmed by Roger Yeoman with Mike Moss, 2nd was X80 Lass, sailed by John Tremlett & Jeremy Lear, and 3rd X91 Astralita, with Mike Martell, Fraser Graham & Tim Copsey.

The dinghies were split into 6 fleets, giving Race officers Tony Mobbs and John Miles plenty of work to do. For the sailors, the breeze allowed most to fly spinnakers or cruising chutes going down the harbour, but there was strong incoming tide in the deep channel, and abundant weed in the shallow sections. Routing decisions were critical, and places were gained by choosing the right track as much as sailing ability.

The Fast Handicap fleet of 13 boats were led home by the visiting 49er of Jake Jefferies & Sam Helmore, with a time of 1 hour 24 minutes, but the HISC Merlin Rockets of Judith Massey & Graham Williamson and Simon & Jackie Lytton took top spots on handicap, with Simon Townsend in his RS400 3rd. The 49er boys overtook a shark down near Ellanore – with photo by safety boat driver to prove it!

The 5 strong fleet of 2000s, all from CYC, were shown the way by Steve Culpitt and Susan Wadsworth (2hr 23min), but in mid-fleet the positions changed according to the route: Chris Hodge and Louise Varley came in second after choosing clear breeze but adverse tide in the Itchenor reach, passing Andy & Liz Palmer–Felgate who parked up at Longmore for a while with no breeze.

Two Lasers and 4 Radials made the trip down the harbour, Luke South (CYC) showing his experience to lead them home, from Martyn Jones of Dell Quay. 15 year old Lucy Mellers (CYC) sailed extremely well to come in 3rd.

4 Solos took part, Derek Jackman and Roger Millett taking the top 2 places. Only 2 entered the Medium Handicap, which Richard Smale won in his Streaker.

The Slow Handicap fleet of 7 stayed in Chichester Lake, where they had 2 short races. Charles Elliott and Charlie South, both in Toppers, had a very close 1st race, Elliott beating South by just 3 seconds. The second race gave the same result, but by a larger margin. Eliza South was 3rd in the first race, and Oliver Randall-May 3rd in the 4th (both in Optimists), but Eliza took 3rd overall as Oliver did not finish the 1st race.

A good day out, and a good CYC tea as reward!

For full results see www.cycdinghies.co.uk/files/regatta_2014.htm