Chichester Harbour Federation Week - day 1

by Event media on 8 Aug 2006 Some 370 dinghies starting Chichester Harbour Federation Week (FED Week) faced an early 10:00 hrs start and were greeted by a good 10 knots of breeze from the north.

With good cloud cover,the wind held, strengthening by a further 3 to 4 knots and backing slightly during the race. Despite a strong flood tide under the starters all classes in Series 1 started without recall, although Series 2 fleets had to be postponed whilst the line had to be adjusted.

Both Series 1 & 2 had a new northerly course providing close racing for all classes. In the Fast Asymmetric fleet the two Int 14s of Bruce Edginton and Andy Partington had a great tussle with Edginton coming out on top. Tim Dickinson showed a clean transom to the other RS700s whilst the ISOs and 29er 725 in the Medium Asymmetric held battle on the water.

The closest finish was between the RS 600 and a new Dutchman in the Fast Handicap with the FD13 taking the gun by one second, to be outclassed by MRX 3618 Maurice Cleal (Wembley S.C) on handicap. The Finn’s had their largest entry for some years with Neil Robinson taking the race.

Family Durrant (HISC) held the lead over Mike Dawe in the RS Elites, and Andy Jameson in the Flying Fifteens used his kite well on the first reach to gain and hold the lead from John Bovis and Mike Cave, who is sailing his 40th Regatta Week.

Ellie and Janet Martin in RS200 (617) have taken the first race in the 43 strong RS 200 fleet whilst Robert Godwin, HISC took the gun for the Lasers. The Solos, with a large entry of 39 boats succumbed to Keith Videlo from Frensham Pond.

In Series 3 Ann Brand (Papercourt) took the Topper gun, ahead of Slipper helms Luke Austen and Kieran Wood.. Gil Carter in his Lymington Scow from Mengeham has taken the first race in the Slow Handicap, and Anthony Parke also from Mengeham leads the 15 strong Optimist fleet.

Results: http://www.chifed.org/fed%20week%20tesults%2006.htm

Venue website: http://hisc.co.uk