Chichester Yacht Club Dinghy Week 2011
by Meryl Deane 12 Aug 2011 18:29 BST
1-5 August 2011
A great turnout for Chichester Yacht Club Dinghy Week © Meryl Deane
Chichester Yacht Club Dinghy Week took place in the first week of August. This week incorporates Family & Junior Week and is a relaxed week of racing, casual sailing and a fun social scene. This year social events included games, a balloon race, a beach party and African Drumming. A Regatta Fleet with coaching for juniors who are just getting going with sailing, but not experienced enough to join the main races was also organised.
This was one of Chichester Yacht Clubs busiest ever Dinghy Weeks. Entries were up by about 30%, with over 100 boats and about 150 sailors joining in the week. The majority of competitors were young people, but adults are welcome to this week and many joined in too. Chichester YC members made up most competitors but the Club were delighted to welcome guests from other sailing clubs. In particular a large fleet of 29ers joined the racing which made for some spectacular racing (and capsizes!). The main series ran over 4 days with 2 races a day, with racing divided into Fast & Slow & Optimist Fleets. On the final day a long distance race was held.
New for 2011, and extremely popular, was coaching support with Hints & Tips available for those youngsters who wished to improve their racing skills.
With 40 boats most days just in the Fast Fleet there were some busy starts. The weather during the week was generally good but with variable winds, keeping experienced Race Officers Steve & Annette Wilson on their toes! A couple of general recalls on Day 1 led to some black flagging, which certainly kept the races more in order!
Fast Fleet
On Day 1 in the Fast Fleet fresh from the Europeans Championship Vikki Payne & Stephi Orton took off in their 29er to set a fast pace on the water. Will Rainey in a Solo gave them some very close competition, and on corrected time took the lead at the end of Day 1. During the week all the first places went to Will Rainey or Vikki & Stephie. Will kept the lead until the end of Day 3, but on Day 4 Vikki & Stephie put in very fast starts and great pace winning Race 7 & 8 to take 1st overall with Will dropping back into 2nd. Meanwhile Luke South & Jimmy Carter fought it out for 1st Laser Luke eventually taking 3rd overall & 1st Laser.
Fast Fleet Series Results
1st Vikki Payne & Stephie Orton - 29er Emsworth SC & CYC
2nd Will Rainey – Solo - Burghfield SC
3rd Luke South – Laser - CYC
4th Jeni & Kate Tod - RS500
5th Jimmy Carter – Laser - CYC
6th Ian Lissamore - Solo - CYC
Slow Fleet
In the Slow Fleet over 35 boats took part, there was some close competition between the Fevas & the Mirrors. Emily Proud & Pippa Williams in a Feva set the tone for the week by taking first place in Race1. Despite close competition from Steve Kelsall & daughter Olivia in a Mirror, the teenagers kept their form & nerve throughout the week. Emily & Pippa enjoyed some close racing with Olivia Winther & Hatty Culver also in a Feva who took a first in Race 3. Hamish Scott, in a Pico was delighted to win Race 6 on handicap.
Slow Fleet Series Results
1st Emily Proud & Pippa Williams - RS Feva - CYC
2nd Steve & Olivia Kelsall - Mirror - CYC
3rd Olivia Winther & Hatty Culver - RS Feva - CYC
4th Hamish Scott - Laser Pico - CYC
5th Ben & William Goodwin – Mirror - CYC
6th Jessica Carter – Topper – CYC
Optimist Fleet
In the Optimist Fleet Charlie Elliott put in a determined start to take Race 1, beating Julia & Lucy Mellers into 2nd & 3rd. During the first three days the first 3 places swapped around between these 3. There was all to play for on the final day, when Julia decide to sail a Feva. Charlie had good race against Lucy Mellers & Izzy Porter, but was over the line in the last race when Julia finished in 1st place, with Izzy 2nd and Ben Williams 3rd. In the final reckoning Charlie had just done enough to pip Lucy to the post to win the Oppie section.
Optimist Fleet Series Results
1st Charlie Elliott – CYC
2nd Lucy Mellers - CYC
3rd Julia Mellers - CYC
4th Izzy Porter - CYC
On the final day a long distance race, the Brunt Challenge was held. This was a pursuit race, much enjoyed by the competitors. The quickest boats starting last were the 29ers. Managing to pass the entire fleet, yet again Vikki Payne & Stephi Orton in the 29er gave a textbook demonstration of asymmetric sailing. At times somewhat to the dismay of the older and more experienced sailors they overtook, as they flew past many were left wondering why they had never been able to sail as well as a pair of teenagers!
Fast Fleet Long distance race – Brunt Challenge
1st Vikki Payne & Stephie Orton - 29er Emsworth SC & CYC
2nd Jon Hill – Streaker - Bough Beech SC
3rd Pete & Suzy Harrison – Laser 2000 - CYC
The Slow Fleet was run more conventionally with juniors competing for the Barry Coomer Memorial Trophy. Lucy Mellers put in an excellent time in her Optimist, keeping going over the longer distance and was awarded first place on handicap. Lesley Kelsall & daughter Katherine managed to take 2nd after a close race with Ben Godwin sailing with son William - both in Mirrors. 4th place went to Julia Mellers in an Optimist.
Slow fleet long distance - Barry Coomer Memorial Trophy
1st Lucy Mellers-Optimist - CYC
2nd Lesley & Katherine Kelsall – Mirror - CYC
3rd Ben & William Godwin – Mirror - CYC
4th Julia Mellers - Optimist – CYC
The week finished with a Barn Dance, Buffet & Prizegiving held on the Lawn at CYC, providing a great end to a very successful week.