Civil Service Sports Council Dinghy Championships 2009

29 various boats assembled at Netley Cliff SC on 18-19 July for the 2009 Civil Service Sports Council Dinghy Championships, organised by the Civil Service Sailing Association. For the first time, HM Forces had been invited to participate in this event, and a single brave soul from the RAF Sailing Association showed up with his Contender. This turned out to be a good decision.

On Saturday winds were generally force 4, but with shifts and gusts. In race 1 Ed Presley (RAFSA) set off smartly into the lead, closely pursued by Martin Hughes (Warsash SC) in the Finn, holder of the 2008 Overall trophy, and then Tim Riley and Lucy Faulds (Littleton SC) in Fireball 14182. The front of the fleet remained very much like this right through to the finish, with the Contender first across the line but with the Finn first on corrected time.

A course change for race 2 caught out the Contender and Fireball, leaving the Finn to win. Martin was followed home on handicap by Fisher’s Green’s Alan Bishop (Laser Radial) and Steve Conroy (Solo). Race 3 used the same course, and Ed made up for his mistake in race 2 to take another first place. He was followed home by Martin Hughes, with the RS200 sailed by Paul and Julie Rayson (Fisher’s Green SC) in third.

Sunday dawned to a strengthening force 4-5 westerly that just kept building. When race 4 started the wind had settled into force 5 gusting 7. A by now familiar pattern developed: Contender, Fireball and Finn in the lead. The Contender soon capsized approaching the first windward mark and was overtaken by the Fireball. A procession of retirements approached the beach in varying states of control, but with the wind still building to a solid force 6 a hardy 11 boats made it to the finish, with Presley, Bishop and Riley/Faulds in the first three places on corrected times.

At 12:30, with the wind still increasing, all further races were abandoned. With the strongest gust of the day recorded at 40 knots (top of force 8), this decision seems, in retrospect, thoroughly justified.

Trophies were awarded by Alex Allan, Civil Service Sailing Association Commodore, assisted by Rob Stephens (Vice Commodore) and Paul Clark (Commodore, Netley Cliff SC). The Seal Cup for first overall went to Ed Presley (RAFSA); the CSSC Rose Bowl for the first CSSC member to Martin Hughes (Warsash SC); Fisher’s Green SC retained the Littleton Bell awarded for the best performing club, and Laura Glover from Littleton SC retained the Junior Trophy.