Chichester Harbour Race Week - Day 3
by Robert MacDonald 18 Aug 2016 18:08 NZST
15-19 August 2016
With an entry now up to 390, the day proved to be a classic 'Fed week' day with the wind starting at 6 knots from the east but quickly freshening to 14 knots from the south east giving the sailors a wonderful day on the water.
In the Fast Asymmetrics, the RS800s certainly enjoyed the conditions taking the first 3 places across the line. Matt Ponsford and Olivia Winther also won on corrected from the series leading RS700 sailed by Adam Golding. In the Medium Asymmetrics it was a day for the 29ers who took 1,2,3 on the water and on corrected time, with Bobby Hewitt and Emily Covell leading them home. In the 400s Caroline and Nick Martin led all day and won by an impressive distance as did David Sayce and Nick Rees in the Fireballs. The varying conditions are leading to a very mixed set of results in the Fast handicap fleet. Today, it was the turn of the International Canoes to show their true colours with G Caldwell from Blythfield winning on both the water and corrected time.
The D-Zeros and Aero 9s continued to share the podium places in their combined fleet with today's winner being Ian Morgan from Netley in his D-Zero and 2nd going to Jim Fifield from Emsworth SC in his Aero 9. Normal service was resumed in the Finn class with Peter McCoy from Emsworth Slipper recording his 2nd dominant win of the week so far. Finally, the 200s today enjoyed a new shorter windward leeward course and after 3 rounds and a great tussle Tom and Emma Morris from HISC snuck past Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright, also from HISC, to take the win despite a late spinnaker hoist on the last lap!
On Series B the race team changed things around with the fleets going to the north of Series A boats and setting up contra rotating courses making best use of the harbour confines. A shorter course with a 0.85nm windward leg was set due to the lighter winds of 6kts. All went well until half way through the start sequence when an increase in wind up to 12 knots dragged the wind right 10 degrees requiring a change of line axis. Even though some fleets were on the course it didn't seem to affect the race dramatically as the tide was pushing right to left. There were a few individual recalls with some mistakenly thinking that they were early and returning unnecessarily. In the Laser Radials 208659 Daniel Wigmore took the gun, whilst in the Solos 5657 Tim Polglase's first place still leaves him behind Nick Peters and Ian Barnett overall. In the strong Feva fleet 6037 Freddy Wood's and Phoebe Peters' win today is a challenge to overall leaders 6200 Freddie Peters and Louis Johnson. All fleets raced around the course with the building breeze reaching 18 knots at one stage, and providing champagne sailing, allowing both competitors and race teams to be ashore in good time to enjoy the Brazilian Beach club party with barbecue and Caribbean music.
The light easterly wind looked steady on the west mud for Series C first race with the slow handicap, Teras and Optimists, having competitive starts, and with the building breeze skewing their course to the south, to make a fast race. The second race required a shift of course to reflect a change in wind direction to the south, and a general recall for the Optimists! With a freshening wind and capsizes occurring this 2 round course was shortened and finishes completed successfully. The Scow fleet are now familiar with Course C and enjoyed competitive battles up and down the west of the harbour! Great racing for young and not so young alike!
On Series D the Elite Fleet finally emerged from Sparkes to make a grand appearance with 14 starters on a windward leeward course in 20 knots of wind again out to the harbour entrance. Close racing ensued in with race I being led from start to finish by 67 Ossie Stewart, but with the wind dropping as the tide turned, Race 2 was taken by Nick Peters, with Russell Peters a close second after an unfortunate encounter with the Winner bank on Race 1. Sadly only 2 XODs were able to arrive for their second day's racing with honours shared after 152 Chris Blevins misjudged the turn of the tide in the second race.
Results can be found at chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net/results