Chichester Yacht Club Dinghy Week 2013
by Meryl Deane 12 Aug 2013 22:19 BST
5-9 August 2013
The fast fleet at Chichester Dinghy Week © Dave Reading
Chichester Yacht Club held another successful Dinghy Week which drew to a close on Friday, after some fantastic sailing and racing.
This five day annual event is an Open Meeting for all sailors with handicap racing & fleet racing for larger fleets. The event was well attended by all ages from about seven to 70. Over 60 boats joined in the racing during the week with Toppers the largest Fleet. As in 2012 there was a Cadet Week for youngsters new to sailing with 16 new sailors enjoying 5 days on an RYA beginner course. In addition there was a coached Regatta Fleet for young sailors with some basic sailing skills.
The main racing was run each day by Race Officer Derek Jackman.
Days 1-4 were a series with 2 races each day. There was good winds Force 3-5 every day. Although Day 2 had no wind initially leading to a postponement, the sea breeze filled in to a pleasant Force 3. Day 2 was later notable for the Fast Fleet with 2 general recalls, leading to a black flagged second race.
In the Fast Fleet the pattern for the week was set on Day 1 by Guy & Tom Marks in a Wayfarer, (Bough Beech SC) who took a first and a second. They continued to dominate the week, winning the series with an impressive six first places. There was plenty of close racing in the rest of the Fleet, with the Contender of Jon Hill (Bough Beech SC) taking 2nd just ahead of Jon Hutchings Laser (Pagham YC) in 3rd.
Fast Fleet Results:
1st Guy & Tom Marks - Weyfarer (Bough Beech)
2nd Jon Hill - Contender (Bough Beech SC)
3rd Jon Hutchings - Laser (Pagham YC)
4th Elliot Marks – Laser (Bough Beech)
5th Sandra Hill – Streaker (Bough Beech)
6th Ian Farr – Laser (CYC)
In the rest of the Fast Fleet there was some great racing amongst the asymmetrics with the 2000s & RS200s enjoying some very close races, with Helen & Mark Green (2000) finishing top of the asymmetric contingent.
In the Slow Fleet the RS Feva of Luke Bailey & Jake Embleton (RHS) dominated throughout the week, with some confident racing, winning the series with 8 first places! They were chased throughout the week by Oscar & Beatrix Wright also in a Feva (HISC) and Pollyanna Wright (HISC) in an RS Tera. Oscar & Beatrix finished in 2nd & Pollyanna 3rd. Two pairs from CYC new to RS Fevas, Susanna Olliff & Lily Maxey and Charlotte & Tom Dawtry also enjoyed their racing and got used to a new class of boat.
Slow Fleet Results:
1st Luke Bailey & Jake Embleton - RS Feva (RHS)
2nd Oscar & Beatrix Wright - RS Feva (HISC)
3rd Pollyanna Wright - RS Tera (HISC)
In the Topper Fleet, there was some close and very serious racing. On Day 1 William Dodd (CYC) and Charlotte Reading (CYC) had a very close race in Race 1 with William just getting past on the final beat to win. This set the pattern for the week, William managed 5 wins throughout the week. Other race winners were Hannah Thompson, Charlie Elliott & Charlie South.
Topper Results:
1st William Dodd
2nd Charlotte Reading
3rd Hannah Thompson
4th Beth Albone
5th Charlie Elliott (all CYC)
The Optimist Fleet was, as always very competitive. There has been a lot of training for this Fleet at CYC in 2013- and this showed in the skill & expertise on the water of these young sailors. Raulf Berry (CYC) won Race 1 and Race 8, but was beaten in every other Race by his sister Blythe (CYC) who clocked up 6 wins, taking first place in the Series. Raulf was 2nd overall. The rest of the Fleet had some very great racing, and the lower positions were hard fought.
Optimist Results:
1st Blythe Berry (CYC)
2nd Raulf Berry (CYC)
3rd Katherine Farr (CYC)
4th Emma Hutching (Pagham YC)
5th Alice Snook (CYC)
There were some notable improvements throughout the week, Carmen Dawtry in particular took a creditable 3rd in Race 6.
Day 5 Involved a Pursuit Race for adults, and a Mini-Regatta for juniors.
The pursuit race was a long distance race, which rather exhausted the competitors as the wind blew up during the race from a low force 4 to a F5. Overall though the sailors enjoyed their race. The first boat out was the RS Feva of Luke Bailey & Jake Embleton followed by the Topper Mango, then the faster boats. The race was fought hard throughout. with Jon Hill in his Contender having to work very hard to catch up the slower boats, but working his way carefully up the fleet to finish fourth
The race was quiet exciting to watch with Peter & Suzy Harrison, (2000, CYC) initially finishing ahead of all the boats on the water. The race was eventually awarded to Luke Bailey & Jake Embleton (RHS) due to some course confusion, who won the Brunt Challenge Trophy. Pete & Suzy were second and Guy & Tom Marks (Wayfarer) third.
Younger sailors enjoyed a Mini-Regatta. This was a new format for last day, with 5 short races for a handicap fleet. These proved very popular with the young sailors, and there was some thrilling racing.
Over the 5 races three were won by Hamish Scott in his Laser. Eliza South had a splendid second race, taking 1st place in her Optimist, and Charlie Elliott & Harry Cowell in their first outing in an RS Feva were 1st in Race 4.
Hamish finished the series well in the lead to win the Barry Coomer Memorial Trophy.
1st Hamish Scott, Laser (CYC)
2nd Charlie Elliott & Harry Cowell, RS Feva (CYC)
3rd Sophie Kirk, Topper (CYC)
4th Charlie South, Topper (CYC)
5th Charlotte Reading, Topper (CYC)
1st Optimist, Raulf Berry (CYC)
The final races were followed by a Balloon Race and then a prize giving on the lawn. Thanks to all those who made the racing such a success with duties both on and off shore.