Chichester Harbour Federation Week - Light breeze on day one

by Chichester Harbour Federation Week on 10 Aug 2010
Federation Week started for the 342 entries with a classic light south westerly breeze, building to a steady force 4, and gusting as high as 20 knots towards the end of the racing.

On both Series I and 2 Courses racing was postponed 15 minutes to allow the wind to settle which was just as well for some competitors who clearly found the early start a bit difficult!

Course F was used giving Series I classes a good beat from Thorney to the inflatable on the Winner bank. Most boats opted for the East Head shore to find less tide.

Mike Lennon in his foiling Moth flew around three laps of the big course in 1 hour and 23 mins. Johny C and James Yearsley in their 49er were first Fast Asymmetric to finish the same course in 1 hours 40 mins and the I14 of Andy and Tom Partington took 1 hour 53mins but is was Aidan Mitchell sailing his RS700 for exactly 2 hours who won on corrected time.

In the Medium Asymmetric (36 entries and the largest event there was a terrific tussle between the 29ers and ISO’s with 29er 1324 (Phil Walker and John Mather) coming home a close first.

Also in this fleet saw the RS100 and Devotti D-One making their Fed Week debuts. Nick Peters in his RS100 finished narrowly ahead of Andrew Streeter in the D-One.

In the Fast Handicap the breeze suited the Merlin Rockets with Simon and Jackie Lytton leading home an impressive fleet. The RS400 had their usual close racing with Matt Johnson and Gael Pawson managing to break away for a good win.

The two leading RS Elites of Greg Lamb and Mike Tong had a tremendous race with Greg winning the duel by 15 seconds in his boat called Duel!

The smaller than usual fifteen fleet saw class masters and harbour maestro’s Roger and Barbara Palmer enjoy a solid win.

17 competitive Finns were so keen they caused a general recall. Richard Harts dip start technique worked well for him but unfortunately caused several boats further down the line to pull the trigger too early and although Richard was behind the line his main blanketed the other boats leaving RO Greg Wells no option but to hoist the first sub and restart with the black flag!

The racing in this class was extremely close throughout the fleet with every boat involved in a battle. Graham Page covered Dan Belton very closely up the last beat to take the win.

On Series 2 a heavily biased line caused many sailors a problem bunching at the pin, but those brave enough to try the Committee boat end of the line found themselves well ahead at the windward mark.

The first two classes, the RS200s and Lasers were under a black flag to ensure a prompt departure, Alan Roberts 1880 HISC took the gun in the RS 200s, the largest class fleet, and Chris Powles, 4656 (HISC) the Solos. The Fevas were won by a visitor, Anna Prescott 3818 from Lymington Town.

Series 3 similarly delayed for 15 minutes enjoyed two good races although over a slightly small course. In the Toppers Hamish Streeter took the second race after James Cunnison ESSC, the class leader left the course to rescue a fellow competitor.

In the Slow Handicap, dominated by the RS Teras, Elliot Wells 1737, has established a solid lead with two firsts, ahead of James Eales 1638 (RLYC), and Jonathan Baddeley, 5803 just leads the Optimist fleet, although on equal points with Jamie Smith 5688, both from HISC.

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Event website http://www.chifed.org/index.asp

Results http://www.chifed.org/fedentry10/fedresults10.htm