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Harken Red Ratchet

Optimist Open at Chichester Yacht Club

by Mark Green 2 May 2021 21:13 BST 1 May 2021

As the competitors arrived at CYC there was a downpour of hail and sleet on the approach to Chichester. Once at the club the competitors rigged and distributed themselves between the clubs two beaches.

The Race Officer Richard Anderton had already shared the briefing over YouTube, and the course over WhatsApp. As the start time approached the rain passed and the sky started to brighten. As the 29 competitors made their way to the start line on the opposite bank of CYC's lake, there was just enough wind for a rectangular course to be laid.

In race one, the boats all got away cleanly and started beating toward the windward mark. Leo Gosling from Royal Lymington had already established a lead at the first mark and began to extend it as he led the fleet to the second mark. He was followed by Jonny Rogers, also from Lymington, with Freya Hutchinson finishing third. The first race was shortened after two laps with some boats finished at the second mark as the wind dropped.

In race two, Leo Gosling led the fleet home, followed by Ewan Hamilton from Newhaven & Seaford, and Freya Hutchinson, another sailor from the strong Royal Lymington team.

Race three confirmed Leo as the overall winner with 3 wins out of 3. Second place went to Toby Vincent from Newhaven & Seaford, followed by Jonny Rogers from Royal Lymington.

When the series results were calculated the overall winners were all from Royal Lymington, first was Leo Gosling, second was Jonny Rogers, and third was Freya Hutchinson. Newhaven's Toby Vincent finished fourth and Ben McEwen from Royal Lymington finished fifth.

Thomas Knight and Nicholas Anderson from Chichester Yacht club both had very encouraging results finishing 10th and 16th.

The Prize Giving was conducted outside the club with the winners presented with engraved paper weights by the Race Officer and CYC's Rear Commodore Karen Cheeseman.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st6495Leo GoslingRLymYC‑1112
2nd6271Jonny RogersRLymYC2‑435
3rd6519Freya HutchinsonRLymYC33‑46
4th6019Toby VincentNewhaven & Seaford SC8‑22210
5th5995Ben McEwenRLymYC‑175611
6th6432Ed Upton‑BrownBosham SC56‑911
7th6231Ewan HamiltonNewhaven & Seaford Sailing Club‑1121012
8th6190Felix GladmanBosham Sailing Club6‑11814
9th5892Felix HoweRLymYC‑1210515
10th6298Thomas KnightCYC98‑1217
11th5830William HutchinsonRLymYC414‑1618
12th6051Laszlo DrummondRLymYC7‑151320
13th5844Lizzie hudsonRLymYC147‑1521
14th5286Harry WhelanWWSC10‑121121
15th6323Faser Hakes ‑1917724
16th5072Nicholas AndersonCYC‑23131427
17th5946Lauren BarberRoyal Southern Yacht Club229‑2631
18th5614Elsie Upton‑BrownBosham Sailing Club13‑201831
19th5426Ruby CallaghanRSrnYC1518‑2333
20th6320Caedon Faulkner ‑ LeaskRSrnYC‑21161733
21st5115Scarlett GladmanBosham Sailing Club16‑232137
22nd5003Angus EverestSpinnaker Sailing Club18‑262038
23rd5251Sam Armstrong RowlandRSYC‑24191938
24th4995Olaf StortonBosham2021‑2241
25th4907Isla HutchinsonRLymYC‑25242448
26th6302Tom KeeganParkstone Yacht Club‑26252550
27th6397Darcy ODonnellRoyal Southern Yacht Club27‑282754
28th6450Rory ArmstrongRoyal Southern YC / Warsash SC‑28272855
29th6444Samuel MachellHISC(DNC)DNCDNC64
29th6299Freddie PankCCSC(DNC)DNCDNC64
29th5665Ludo KameenBosham SC(DNC)DNCDNC64

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