Glyn Charles Memorial Pursuit Race

by Event media on 20 Jun 2006 This weekend's Glyn Charles Memorial Pursuit Race, run by Hayling Island Sailing Club on Saturday 17 June, was an absolute classic with 120 dinghy and keelboat entries enjoying closely fought racing around Chichester Harbour.

The pursuit began at 2pm in a light sea breeze from a line to the north of the club house and east of the main channel.

With a strong flood tide running the smart move was to start on port and cross the channel quickly before tacking up the Hayling shore where the spectators were delighted to have a ring side seat for the action.

There were some fantastic starts, particular from the youth teams in the 420s and 29ers who really showed their elders how it should be done! Best start of the day definitely went to Sophie Weguilin and Katrina Huges sailing a 420 who totally nailed it.

Despite the huge fleet the only crew individually recalled were Fireball World Champions Chips Howarth and Vyv Townsend. There were suggestions that over indulgence at the previous night’s picnic boat rendezvous on East Head may have affected Chips's starting technique but your reporter is unable to comment!

Although the small boats got away well the sea breeze was struggling to fill in and the wind speed was constantly up and down. As Solos and Fevers lined up the wind momentarily died off and they struggled to cross the line against the strong tide. Sadly the sea breeze never really did settle and as result the high performance asymmetric dinghies didn’t really get a look in with the likes of Ian Pinnell, Mark Upton-Brown, Richard Stenhouse and Russell Peters all finding themselves down in the unfamiliar cheap seats.

Those who benefited from the conditions were the keelboats and the traditional single-handers who really came into their own. A little local knowledge also went a long way as crews struggled to keep out of the tide and cross the channels at the most advantageous points.

Ultimately the race became a duel between HISC members Mike Dawe, Laura Gilbert & Paul Carpenter in an RS Elite and Chichester's Harbour Master John Davis, crewed by his wife Valerie aboard their beautiful classic Sunbeam (more than a little local knowledge there I'd say!).

Initially John Davis looked good but he struggled on the final beat. Mike and his Elite meanwhile surprise PRO Mark Woods as they seemed to just plough through the fleet, proving that this new boat, designed specifically for Chichester Harbour with its relatively shallow draft, really does work in these tricky conditions. Ultimately the new kid Elite won the day with the Sunbeam second. Third overall went to Tessa and Nicholas Lancaster in a Flying Fifteen with Nick and Katie Peters fourth in their RS200.

Early on in the race Hector and Ben Cisneros had set a blistering pace in their Mirror and were looking good for victory. They were still heading the fleet and making an excellent job of the long leg from Dunes to SW Pilsey where the tide suddenly increased in the last 100 metres and sent many hurtling off into oblivion. Hector & Ben, whose home club is Reading SC, did a great job of crossing the tide but slightly misjudged their final approach and hit the mark badly damaging the boat. Sadly, despite taking their penalty, they were forced to retire but came ashore to a hero's welcome a the prize giving where they were awarded the 'Oops!' prize which included a Henri Lloyd buoyancy aid signed by double Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson.

Tim Peters definitely provided the funniest moment of the day when he and crew Chris succeeded in capsizing their RS800 despite the fact that there was virtually no breeze. Naturally they received a round of applause from fellow competitors and crews alike as they surfaced.

As always the prize giving was a goody fest with awards for almost everyone. Glyn's mother Margaret Charles spoke of Glyn and thanked all the competitors for attending and for helping to raise so much money for the John Merricks Sailing Trust.

Olympic Silver Medallist Mark Covell MC'd the ceremony and HISC Commodore David Nicholls presented the prizes. Mike Dawe and his winning crew walked away with a fabulous overnight stay at the luxurious Four Season Hotel Hampshire as well as the Dubarry Trophy for the first keelboat and 3 pairs of Dubarry of Ireland footwear.

Speaking after racing Paul Carpenter, winning crew aboard RS Elite #6, who recently finished second in the Elite Nationals, said – 'The Elite was specifically designed for Chichester Harbour and it was fantastic that we beat her predecessor the Sunbeam. It was really close all the way round but the new boat did come good in the end! It's a wonderful race for young and old alike and with 120 competitors it’s a seriously prestigious event to win. There's no great secret to our success, Laura calls all the shots, I do all the important stuff in the boat and Mike just does what he's told!'

Second overall John & Valerie Davis were delighted to win two £100 vouchers for Gill clothing and subscriptions to www.thedailysail.com, whilst Tessa & Nicholas Lancaster in third received two £80 Gill vouchers and subscriptions to Seahorse magazine.

Jane Blaydes aboard her Solo was the first single hander, finishing fifth overall, and receiving a state of the art laptop computer generously donated by Basilica. Jane also won the largest fleet award for which the prize was a special print of her and the Solo fleet in action on the day by official photographer Steve Arkley. Tony Catchpole was second in the single handers winning a £50 Gill voucher and Rick Tomlinson calendars, while third place went to David McGregor in his Finn.

In the under 16 division the double handers were won by Frances Peters & Katie Sparks in their 420 who received two £60 Gill vouchers plus goodies from Billabong and Yachts & Yachting. Second place also went to the Peters family in the shape of James Peters & Olly Spencly-Cawfield in a 29er with Issay Allerston and Hannah Lane third in an RS Feva. The first under 16 single hander went to Harry Allerston sailing a Laser Radial.

Alongside the serious prizes there were also the fun awards. Kit Stenhouse from 'up north' won the Traveller Award of a TackTick Micronet Compass. Toby and Judy Cave walked away with his and hers Henri Lloyd jackets for being the last husband and wife crew to finish. The Oldest Boat Award went to John Meredith's Wayfarer. The highest combined crew age was won by Charles Barron, Alex Martin & Joan Pride in an RS Elite and last but by no means least the overall last place 'Try Another Sport Prize' of a fantastic pair of Scott Skis went to Will Leonard and Clive Holland in their Wayfarer.

Olympic Silver Medallist Mark Covell was observing the race from the camera boat and was very impressed with the courteous way everyone behaved in a busy harbour in light airs.

'It just goes to show that our Harmony In The Harbour programme, aimed at improving relations between the various users of the harbour, is beginning to work.' Commented Mark after racing.

This annual event is run in memory of Glyn Charles, one of Britain's greatest sailing talents who was tragically lost in the 1998 Sydney Hobart Race, and to raise funds for the John Merricks Sailing Trust, set up following the death of Glyn's great friend John Merricks in a car accident in 1997.

The JMST does a fantastic job of funding projects to advance the education and physical and mental development of young people in need (under the age of 25 years) with a view to promoting the achievement of their potential through the sport of sailing. Every penny of the entry fee together with money raised at a special auction held at the HISC summer ball, which took place following the race, go to the JMST and this year the final total raised is expected to exceed £2,000.

Special thanks to all the 120 crews that raced this year and to our fantastic prize donors Four Seasons Hotel Hamps