RS Feva Open at Emsworth Sailing Club

On the first day of the Chichester Harbour double header (Emsworth on Saturday and Chichester on Sunday) the sun shone and the wind was decent but gusty with variations from F3 to F4+ with 30 degree oscillations under the clouds. As ever there was remarkable consistency at the head of the fleet but terrific individual results elsewhere.

The Fevas also had a great first. A geezer (adult) won an Open meeting for the first time. Rob Cage was very ably crewed by his daughter Georgia and showed blinding speed once he had settled after the first race (4th). Rob and Georgia then reeled off three straight bullets despite having to go around the ends on the last start.

Just behind Rob came the ever reliable and consistent Ackroyds from Norfolk with three second places to count. Nathan and Anna have now had a first and two second places in the Fat Face Circuit events this year as reward for their phenomenal travels. Meanwhile Oz Scully and Bethany Robson rounded of the podium places by beating Rupert and Hugo Jones-Warner on countback! Rupert probably felt hard done by after loosing several places in one race shortly after rounding the leeward mark when he was hit by big heading gust when in full hike mode. The consequential capsize to windward was rapidly sorted but at the expense of 2 places!

Alex Poyner and Holly Tucker were first all girl team in 5th and in beating fellow club member (and geezer) Mark with son Charlie Stubbings got the honour of being first home club boat.

Ed & Will Lowes in 7th just beat by one point Guy and Rosie Hickman from Pagham. This was an uncharacteristic result for the Lowes but they are sure to bounce back strongly in Chichester part of the double header. Jon Holmes and Hamish Ellis came out top in a three way tie for 9th place that saw the scorers working overtime to break the deadlock! The unlucky 10th were Toby Holloway & Oliver Stephens from Burghfield whilst even more unlucky were brother and sister Michael & Elizabeth Ellis in 11th.

In his acceptance speech Rob Cage was kind enough to praise Emsworth Sailing Club on their great hospitality. The truth of the matter was that it was absolutely brilliant to see the nineteen visitors to the club put on a great show themselves and those of us from Emsworth felt priviledged to have them sail with us. From an organizers point of view it was good to see two matters being referred to the protest chairman for an advisory hearing under the RYA Racing Charter Scheme. All sailors have a duty to all other sailors as well as themselves to observe the rules and to do so scrupulously. Inevitably in a class with a lot of younger sailors rules knowledge is still at a lowish level. It is good to see sailors take advantage of the Charter Scheme to improve knowledge all round. If everybody takes responsibility for their own errors it makes sailing so much more fun for everybody. Many thanks to Joe Burnie for expediting the 2 hearings so quickly.

Overall Results: