ILCA Open at Chipstead Sailing Club

Chipstead ILCA Open © Edward Poet

For the first time in living memory for two years in a row, the Open was blessed with good winds from a good direction! And this year it was (almost) warm!

A North-easterly blowing between force 4 and 6 greeted 15 entrants divided roughly equally between ILCA 7s and 6s, the latter having the predominance possibly owing to a combination of the advancing ages of the entrants and the wind strength together with the thought of lasting out 4 races.

Chipstead ILCA Open - photo © Edward Poet

The Race Officer, Ric Lewis, hardy enough to endure another year of organising this motley bunch, and his hard working Graduate fleet team (to which many thanks) set a course for each race using the whole of the Lake, ensuring good beats, runs and even (a rarity for Chipstead) some reaches, and a number of laps which tried the stamina of many of the sailors.

Race 1 in the 7s set the standard for the day with the first three positions being contested by the only 3 visitors to the meeting. David Goddard (Weirwood SC) won, closely followed by Sergio Messina (Bough Beech SC), with Harry Newton (Whitstable YC) who reduced the overall age of the fleet considerably, recovering from a poor start to finish third.

Chipstead ILCA Open - photo © Edward Poet

Andrew Bowes making a welcome return to Laser sailing after some years suffered an unpleasant injury to his hand when capsizing, and was forced to retire for the day having leaked a considerable amount of blood over the boat he was borrowing.

In the 6s, Graham Field got past John Masters when the latter wrapped his mainsheet round the end of his boom, and won with David Victor and Simon Yeates, second and third.

Chipstead ILCA Open - photo © Edward Poet

Race 2 saw Newton get into his stride and win in the 7s, followed by Goddard and Messina, whilst in the 6s there was a great win for Alan Johnson in his new(ish) boat, a good second for Yeates, and a third this time for Field.

The sailors retired for lunch served by the wonderful Carlene to build up energy for the afternoon, whilst the wind did not abate, recording a high gust of 31 knots just in time for Race 3.

Chipstead ILCA Open - photo © Edward Poet

Race 3 was another close contest in the 7s, with Goddard holding off Newton to win, with Messina in third. In the 6s, age and fitness had taken their toll and there were a number of DNSs, but this time it was, appropriately, a victory for Victor, followed by Field and Masters.

In the 7s it was all to play for in Race 4 between Goddard and Newton as to who would win the meeting. Newton started well and sailed brilliantly into a substantial lead which he never lost, to win the race and the meeting on count back despite finishing with the same number of points as Goddard. Goddard was second in this race, after a nip and tuck battle with Messina, with their places changing all race.

Chipstead ILCA Open - photo © Edward Poet

In the 6s, Victor was again victorious, ensuring his win overall, with Field second which was his overall position as well, and Johnson had a good third, despite spending a lengthy portion of the race swimming!

Special mention of the day, goes to the one lady entrant, Nicola Burnett, who had the strength and courage to show up a lot of the men by completing all four punishing races, and thereby winning so many prizes she could nearly equip a new boat!

Overall Results: