Hadron H2 Open at Chichester Yacht Club

Those racing on Saturday in the first Hadron H2 Class event of the season were up there with the best of the best. It was blowing and it was going to blow. White horses and foam crowned the waves out in the main channel.

Richard Anderton, our tough but fair Race Officer set a triangular course rather provocatively placing the gybe mark in Typhoon Alley in front of the club grandstand. The wind direction was south westerly with windspeeds varying between 25 to 40 knots. Six boats from the eleven entries took to the water.

Start during the Chichester Yacht Club Hadron H2 Open - photo © Chris Turner

Richard Leftley (145) and Richard Le Mare (156) were soon at the front of the fleet having a ding dong battle in the first three races. Leftley was very fast upwind, with a well crafted sail shape and impressive level trim, but it was the post gybe bearaways that seemed to catch him out. Le Mare in his elegant new purple machine sporting Selden spars managed the race track and conditions slightly better overall and was a very worthy winner of the Open Trophy.

Tim Garvin (105) and Dave Barker (148) were close behind. Barker was the only sailor who managed to stay upright for the whole afternoon, deserving a special mention. Pete Harrison (114) sporting an appropriately coloured lifeboat orange hull showed some early pace and then went "aquatic". Dick Holden (121) decided enough was enough and came in for an early cup of tea.

Pete Harrison during the Chichester Yacht Club Hadron H2 Open - photo © Chris Turner

Those of us pensioners on shore who chose to sit this one out were treated to a most exciting spectacle. It was also great to see and meet a number of new owners whose boats are soon to be delivered. The club put on a very welcome tea followed by prize-giving. Thank you to all those who volunteered to help make the event go so smoothly in the presence of such challenging conditions.

Overall Results: