Please select your home edition
Edition
Stoneways Marine 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Bosham Sailing Club Finn Festival 2022

by Dick Pratt 21 Jul 2022 23:21 BST 15-17 July 2022
Bosham Finn Festival 2022 © Peter Hickson

A three-day celebration of seventy years of sailing Finns at Bosham took place over the 15th-17th July. It was also an opportunity to mark seventy years since the Finn first sailed in the Olympics in Helsinki. Bosham SC has a fleet of eleven boats and is hoping to have more soon. Some have called Bosham SC the ancestral home of UK Finn sailing as the fleet started there soon after the design was finalised in 1949.

Twenty-six boats had entered but Covid took its toll and 23 actually competed over two days with three races per day. The event had a retro feel, not only because it was the 70th anniversary for the Finn fleet as an international class, but also within the fleet there were three wooden-hulled 1950's and 60's classics, sailing with wooden and aluminium masts and Dacron sails.

Moreover, adding spice to the sailing, the courses set were around Chichester harbour using the local racing marks, several of which date from this early period in dinghy racing.

The sun blazed away as the days were to herald some historically high temperatures and unforgettable sailing in Chichester harbour. The weather patterns over the three days were virtually ideal with a sea breeze building each day from about 11.00.

Friday was an opportunity for visiting helms to familiarise themselves with the Chichester harbour waters. Cameron Tweedle ran the day's training providing his expert guidance as the current UK national champion. Starting with very little wind, as the day progressed, the wind built to a spectacular 15kts, about the limit for effective training communications.

All participants improved their sailing skills under Cameron's excellent supervision. Topics covered included rig set-up for a variety of conditions, faster tacking and advice on making the boat go faster.

Following a detailed briefing by the race officer Nick Fox, with stern warnings to get to the start area on time, the races on Saturday saw slightly less breeze than Friday's training day, but still sufficient to propel the fleet to several corners of the harbour. Sunday saw the return of the stronger breeze, but this time from a more awkward easterly direction.

Competition was tight as a different winner emerged at the end of each of three races, with some evidence that the previous days training had made a significant difference to some peoples sailing. Andrew Wylam, Dave Walker and Mathew Walker each scored bullets.

Results were largely determined by the first beat, choosing the Itchenor shore paid off in races 1 and 2, but Dan Belton did well to come back from a choice of the Pilsey Island shore in the first race.

Race 3 was across the Winner Bank with a finish a long way downwind to Bosham Quay and the club line. It was noticeable that the lighter helms and those with local knowledge benefited from this format and Mathew Walker came through to win. Contrary to popular belief the old wooden boats demonstrated they are still competitive.

Martin Hughes sailing a late 1950's Jeremy Rogers built Finn and a 1980's Musto Dacron sail, showed the fleet the way on several occasions during the day, placed in the top five all three races to complete the day in overall third place.

On Saturday night Bosham Sailing Club, hosted a magnificent Finn feast to commemorate the 70th anniversary. The meal was well attended by Finn sailors past and present with many Finn memories remembered and discussed. The event also sought to raise money for the Andrew Simpson Water Sports Foundation, to which purpose, Guest of Honour at the Dinner on Saturday evening was Olympian and multi-medal winning coach David 'Sid' Howlett.

Day Two dawned with more gradient wind which built with an augmenting sea breeze, but stayed in the east. Easterlies in Chichester channel provided the Race Officer, Nick Fox with a significant headache to lay a windward leg and a fair start line sailing across the channel. This meant that the first beat was very short and crossing the strong spring tide made for some hectic activity on the start line and at the windward mark.

Boat speeds were high with several downwind and reaching legs and boats covered the ground in quick time making for quite a short Race 4, won by Mathew Walker.

The next race was longer, taking the sailors out into the harbour entrance, but as the wind built so the speeds went up with Roman Khodykin coming home first in 46 minutes. Determined to get at least one big race in before the end, the Race Officer sent the fleet across the harbour entrance and the Winner Bank before a big blast downwind to finish at the Quay Line. Mathew Walker built a two-minute lead by the end, coming home in 1 hour 16 minutes.

All competitors received a commemorative hoodie and several product prizes from Force 4, Musto, Harken, Kingfisher ropes, Allen Brothers and Sandiline. Winner of The Bosham Plate as overall top boat was Mathew Walker, who also received a 25% discount off a new North sail. Winner of the Amoeba Trophy for overall fastest Classic (and fourth overall) was Martin Hughes, who also received a pair of new Musto Hiking Pants.

Dan Belton took overall second place and Cameron Tweedle took third. All these winners also won traditional Bosham Sailing Club glassware.

The event was also sponsored very generously by Rodney and Sue Cobb at Suntouched Sailboats, with further prizes and goodies from Edward Cooke (family lawyers) Covers (Timber & Builders Merchants), Devoti Sailing, Montezuma (chocolates) Treagust Butchers, Stride & Son (Chartered Surveyors, Estate Agents, Auctioneers & Valuers).

Photos available by Peter Hickson at: finnuk.org.uk/project/bosham-finn-festival-and-traveller-series-open

Results:

1st Matthew Walker - 8.0
2nd Dan Belton - 18.0
3rd Cameron Tweedle - 19.0
4th Martin Hughes (first Classic wooden Finn) - 23.0
5th David Walker - 34.0
6th Russ Ward - 40.0
7th Andrew Wylam - 40.0

Related Articles

Finn Class News - November 2023
IFA President Rob McMillan sums up the past season The latest issue include reviews of all the major Finn events during 2023, highlighting the good health of the class with growing numbers and great competition. Also, all the latest news and a huge number of national updates. Posted on 22 Nov
It's not just about the racing
Had occasion to be invited to attend a luncheon Had occasion to be invited to attend a luncheon. It was with a crew that do not even race together anymore, and the boat has been sold many a year ago, as well. Posted on 19 Nov
Moana Auckland - new Ocean Festival launched
the inInaugural Moana Auckland, New Zealand's Ocean Festival, launches in February next year Aucklanders and visitors are in for a festival like no other when the inaugural Moana Auckland, New Zealand's Ocean Festival, launches in February next year. Posted on 8 Nov
Warsash Finn Open
23 helms for British Finn Travellers Series finale 23 Finns turned out for the final event of the British Finn Travellers series, traditionally hosted by Warsash Sailing Club. Posted on 9 Oct
Laurent Hay completes year as Finn World No. 1
The Finn World Ranking List now includes 1,324 sailors from 38 countries In Issue No 4 of the world rankings, released this week, he has even extended his lead at the top to 156 points after an incredibly successful season which included silver medals at the Finn Gold Cup, Europeans and Finn World Masters. Posted on 5 Oct
Solway Yacht Club Autumn Open Spectacular
Strong entry of Finns, OKs, ILCAs and National 12s Several leading racing dinghy classes were invited to Kippford for the Club's big late season Open leading to a strong entry including Finns, International OKs, ILCAs (Lasers) and National 12s. Posted on 3 Oct
Europe, Finn & OK Open at Hayling Island Preview
Celebrating the unstayed single handers at the end of the season With 12 Finn arriving in the dinghy park en-masse at HISC at the beginning of the year, Europe activity a plenty, and OKs with Paul, Charlie, Alex, Matt and Simon, an event to celebrate the unstayed single handers has been hatched. Posted on 22 Sep
2023 Finn European Masters at Lake Garda overall
Peter Peet wins the title after tense final day Peter Peet, from The Netherlands, has won the 2023 Finn European Masters at Campione del Garda, Italy, after a nervous last day with a long wait for wind and then two more challenging races in light and shifty winds. Posted on 9 Sep
2023 Finn European Masters at Lake Garda Day 3
Peter Peet maintains lead despite complex conditions Peter Peet, from The Netherlands, will go into the final day of the 2023 Finn European Masters, at Campione del Garda, with a nine-point lead over Britain's John Greenwood, while Olof Lundqvist, from Sweden, moves up to third. Posted on 8 Sep
Bosham Regatta 2023
A perfect day on the water for the 140 boats and 250 sailors Last Saturday 140 boats and 250 sailors took part in the annual Bosham Regatta. Champagne conditions, canon finishes, and a superb regatta tea meant it was the perfect day on the water. Posted on 7 Sep