Dinghy Racing at Bosham Sailing Club
by Nicky Chapple 19 Apr 2011 06:20 BST
16-17 April 2011
Competitive sailing despite a lack of wind at Bosham © Nicky Chapple
Competitive sailing despite lack of wind
On Saturday under widespread cloud, a rising tide and zero wind, the dinghies of the Bosham Sailing Club Classic Day Boat group gathered with some expectation of setting to sea. Seven Tideways, thirteen medium division boats, and five fast boats – 18 footers and a Sharpie - signed on. Despite a lot of whistling, a postponement and more whistling, it would have been a tremendous piece of luck to have had a seabreeze. It never happened and so the 25 boat crews settled for the bar, the restaurant or more gardening duties on this occasion. Race Officer David Edmund-Jones had done his best, but it wasn’t to be.
The following day dawned with clear skies and a much better prospect of the sea-breeze. It did not disappoint. Race Officer Gerald Cheyne flagged a half-hour postponement and right on cue, the breeze arrived at the start line. Nine Oppies helmed by the youngest members of the club took to the water and raced up against the tide. The first race was won by Dominic Lewis with Tom Gogarty second. The second race was won by Tom Gogarty with Flora Windebank second.
The other cadet race saw four Fevas, seven Toppers, five Mirrors, two Laser Radials and a 420 completing the fleet of twenty boats. Line honours were taken by Ollie Blanchard and Ben Ross in the 420. Handicap results are awaited.
Twelve Scows also took to the water and the attendant patrol boats saw some very competitive starting with Bill Lee having started prematurely and needing to re-cross the start line. Izzie Lee emerged triumphant at the end of the race with Judy Roberts second and Walter Benzie third.
Eleven Fast handicap boats were set an audacious course in the light sea-breeze which strengthened sufficiently down channel to allow a course to be set to Pilsey and up to Thorney channel before returning to a quay finish in a strengthening ebb tide. Line honours went to David Rankin in a Finn with Ken Harper second over the finish line and George Gordon third both in their Lasers. Handicap results are awaited. The fifty two boats that took to the water in the brilliant sunshine and light sea-breeze were rewarded with a good days’ racing.
Anyone interested in joining the Bosham Dinghy Racing scene should contact the club by email or telephone 01243 572341.