Chichester Harbour Race Week 2026 - Day 1

With over 340 entries registered, only two hundred and seventy signed out to race, with a light northerly wind forecast, but expected to defer to a sea breeze by mid-morning.

The race teams had had been prepped and afloat in good time for the 10 o'clock first start on both Series A and B. Courses were set on 320° over the Pilsey sands to offset the effect of the current when it turned to the ebb soon after the first start.

During the start sequence and first lap for the early fleets the wind started to show signs of switching off as the land heated up so the Series A race team elected to shorten events 1-4 to just one lap. However, the northerly won the early battle with the sea breeze and kicked back in so events 5-7 were able to sail the full 2 lap course in a stable 10 knot breeze.

The Fast handicap proved to be good day for Merlin Rockets which managed first and third places, the winner being Charles and Emma Tavner. 2nd was the Osprey sailed by Ross Harvey and Nick Willis. The Flying Fifteens enjoyed a good battle and close finish between James Yearsley (4126) and Andy Jameson (4145) with AJ taking line honours but it turned out he fell foul of the UFD rule.

The healthy Hadron H2/Devoti Zero fleet of 22 entries was won by the Hadron of Tim Blackmore from Chichester YC. The Devoti Zero Rohan Daniels, who has ventured all the way down from Ogston Sailing Club (Derbyshire) was second. The 24 Finn entry enjoyed their usual close racing but it was David Hitchcock from Hayling who took the gun despite an early collision after starting.

In the Fast Asymmetric it was a great day for the perennial "Fed Week" visitor Christian Reynolds in his Musto skiff. In the light winds, the Slow Asymmetric were dominated by the RS400 of Rob Gullan and Jack Holden. In 2nd place was a new boat to CHRW, the 59er sailed by Andrew Peters and Rachel Jenkins from Castle Cove.

The good entry of fourteen 29ers mean they get their own results this year and today's winners were Ed Stubbs and Kai Miller from Lyme Regis. The large fleet of 28 RS200's saw the top 3 boats having a great tussle but it was Frances Partington's downwind speed on the final run which saw Frances and Chris O'Neill take the gun followed by Paul and Suzie Hammett and then Aidan Mitchell in third place.

On Series B the race officer opted for a smaller windward-leeward course in case the wind dropped out as forecasted. This turned out to be a good call and the sailors enjoyed a great morning.

The 2000s were won by Martin Sowerby and Angela Booth, whilst the massive medium handicap fleet of 39 boats was won by Graham and Felix Camm in their National 12. A great result given no reaches, although some competitors evidently spent some time searching for a gybe mark.

The RS Aero 7 was won by Sarah Pickard from Bowmoor, whilst the RS Aero 6 was led by Glenn Collings all the way from the beautiful Mount Martha Yacht Club in Australia! In the Aero 5s the ever popular Carol Fiddaman took line honours ahead the also ever popular Sarah Smith in 2nd place.

Bryan Taylor from Frensham Pond took the gun for the solo fleet, with today's light conditions well suited to pond sailors! The ICLA4s were won by Ella Gardiner from Emsworth SC., whilst the ILCA6 fleet was won by Rob Jackson from Dragon Bay which we believe is in the Cayman Islands. In the RS Fevas Cara Lynch and Annabelle Kent crossed the line first.

On Series C the similar conditions endured but the team managed to get both races sailed, over a trapezoid course for the first time. In the Teras Ollie Gardiner has established a lead with two first places ahead of Jack Wood in a Tera Sport but with more wind tomorrow will this all change? In the Optimist fleet Ingaela Leask has the overnight lead with two seconds ahead of Wilfred Wareham with a 1st and 4th place.

Tomorrow brings another early start, but with more wind forecast from the east.

Event website: chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net