Leader Open at Dell Quay Sailing Club
by Jane Wharmby 15 May 2006 21:30 BST
13-14 May 2006
Leader sailors from as far away as Milton Keynes and Suffolk travelled to Dell Quay SC for 2-days of racing in Chichester Harbour on 13th and 14th May.
Four visiting boats joined the three local teams to take part in Dell Quay SC's annual harbour race on Saturday. Leaving Dell Quay at 11 am on the flooding tide, the fleet raced to East Head and back in near perfect conditions, with winds of F3-4 in the more exposed areas of the harbour.
Mike and Val Sherwen led the fleet for the 2½ hour race, with Chris and Jane Wharmby constantly on their heels. Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Dormer took third place with Mike’s sons, Scott and Matt coming in 4th despite a capsize in one of the unpredictable gusts.
The fleet opted for passage races again on Sunday, this time with Bosham Quay as their goal.
Lighter winds saw the Sherwens again win the morning race, despite an early lead from the Wharmbys. Following some very close racing through the moored boats off Itchenor, Roger Wilson and crew William got caught the wrong side of a cruiser and Mike and Tim were able again to secure third place.
A high spring tide meant the fleet could almost sail into the Anchor Bleu at Bosham where they enjoyed a quick lunch before the race home. This time the Wharmbys led from the start and despite some close contact tacking in the shallows opposite Itchenor they managed to hold off the Sherwens who took 2nd place, followed by Fitzgerald and Dormer.
Overall Results:
1st Mike and Val Sherwen, Deben YC, Leader 26
2nd Chris and Jane Wharmby, Milton Keynes SC, Leader 1083
3rd Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Dormer, Dell Quay SC, Leader 1078
4th Roger Wilson and William Housego-Woolgar, Sussex YC, Leader 1157
5th Scott and Matt Fitzgerald, Dell Quay SC, Leader 331
6th Roger Morse and Chris Smallman, Welwyn Garden City SC, Leader 118
7th Mike Savage and Bob Marshall, Dell Quay SC, Leader 175