Stuart Green Sprint Champs and Commodores Cup At The Chase Sailing Club

Stuart Green Sprint Championships, start - 70 years of the Chase Sailing Club © CSC

Linda Instone and Commodore Anderson - 70 years of the Chase Sailing Club © CSC

Richard Instone and Commodore Anderson - 70 years of the Chase Sailing Club © CSC

Celebrating Seven Decades of Sailing, Friendship, and Fun

As we power through the 70th anniversary year of The Chase Sailing Club, the weekend of 3rd-4th May 2025 saw members and guests come together for one of the most memorable events in club history. Blending competitive sailing with a healthy dose of nostalgia and celebration, the weekend was packed with high-energy racing, heartfelt tributes, and unforgettable 70s-style partying.

Honouring Stuart Green with the Sprint Championships

Saturday marked a special and emotional addition to our annual calendar, the inaugural Stuart Green Sprint Championships. Stuart was more than just a sailor, he was a former Commodore, trustee, and passionate member who knew The Chase Sailing Club inside out. His sudden passing on 26th November 2024 came as a great shock to the club, and it felt only right to honour him with a championship that reflected his commitment to racing and camaraderie.

The day featured 15 sprint races spread across three sessions. With 25 competitors on the start line, OOD Steve McCarthy briefed the sailors at 10:30 AM, setting the tone for an action-packed day. The first five trapezoid course races kicked off promptly at 11:00 AM in a brisk 15-knot breeze. Fast-paced 8-10 minute races pushed sailors hard from the start. Early leaders included Adam Froggatt, Josh Hyland, and Sam McKay, with the top ten all tightly bunched in points.

After a well-earned lunch break, the fleet returned for five triangle-sausage sprint races. Tensions rose on the water, especially between Froggatt and Hyland, as they engaged in some tight and tactical battles. Spirits remained high, and despite the intensity, smiles were visible across the fleet.

With Froggatt holding the lead after 10 races, the final session featured five windward-leeward courses. Although the breeze lightened and became shiftier from the north, Steve McCarthy and his race team handled conditions flawlessly. After 15 gruelling races, sailors returned to shore exhausted but fulfilled, ready for a night to remember.

Stuart Green Sprint Championships - Final Results

1st Overall & 1st Slow Fleet - Sam McKay in his Streaker
2nd Overall & 1st Fast Fleet - Josh Hyland in his Phantom
3rd Overall & 2nd Fast Fleet - Finn Watson in a Devoti D-Zero
4th Overall & 2nd Slow Fleet - Graham Flynn in a Laser Radial
5th Overall & 3rd Slow Fleet - Rob Stringer & Pete Tate in a GP14
7th Overall & 3rd Fast Fleet - James Vyse in a Supernova

Congratulations to all competitors — the tight racing and fantastic spirit on and off the water truly honoured Stuart's legacy.

Saturday Night Fever at The Clubhouse

After a day of racing so intense it left people wondering if their arms were still attached, it was time to ditch the wetsuits and dive headfirst into the era of flares, glitter, and dangerously wide collars.

As the sun set, the clubhouse transformed into a groovy 70s paradise. The air was thick with anticipation (and a worrying amount of hairspray), and the sailors, families, and friends showed up in everything from full ABBA ensembles to suspiciously tight Elvis jumpsuits.

And then... the dance floor exploded.

With DJ Stevie T spinning disco classics, the room lit up. People danced like they hadn't seen their knees in years. Beer flowed like water, wine bottles emptied at record speeds, and the shots,oh the shots were going down faster than a capsized Laser in a gust.

Just when we thought the 70s party couldn't get any better, Commodore Chris Anderson decided it was time to crank up the chaos. As "Macho Man" blared through the speakers, he charged onto the dance floor like a disco fuelled gladiator and began dramatically ripping shirts off unsuspecting sailors, buttons pinging through the air like shrapnel from a polyester grenade.

It was part Chippendales, part health and safety nightmare, and 100% unforgettable. If we'd done a proper risk assessment, we'd have issued everyone safety goggles and a warning label.

Special shoutout to Social Secretary Trish Blackham, who clearly unleashed some kind of funky magic on the night. She pulled out all the stops and then some, it must've been the three bottles of vodka hidden in the punch that tipped the whole thing into glorious mayhem. One thing's for sure: it was the most legendary night the club's seen in decades.

Commodore's Cup - The Racing Continues

Despite sore heads, Sunday saw 18 boats take to the water for the Commodore's Cup, a three-race handicap championship. With a 12:00 PM start, a fresh 10-15 knot breeze set the stage for more top-quality racing.

Race 1 saw Richard Instone take the win in his Solo, followed closely by Sam McKay (Kestrel, crewed by James Vyse) and Sam Coxon in his Phantom. After a quick lunch, races 2 and 3 ran back-to-back with shifting winds, but the race team managed conditions brilliantly.

McKay and Vyse claimed 1st in both final races, with Coxon taking two solid 2nds, and Instone placing 3rd in both. With Sam Coxon and Richard Instone tied on points, it came down to countback giving Instone second place overall and Coxon Third.

Commodores Cup, 1st Overall and 1st fast fleet, Sam McKay and James Vyse - 70 years of the Chase Sailing Club - photo © CSC

Commodore's Cup - Final Results

7th Overall & 3rd Slow Fleet - Linda Instone in the Solo

Special thanks to Robline UK for generously supporting the event and supplying prizes, your contribution added real value and excitement to the day. We appreciate the support!

A Club to Be Proud Of

As the weekend drew to a close, Commodore Anderson offered heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, sailors, and families who made the event such a success. Special recognition went to Steve McCarthy for his expert race management and for achieving the full 15-race schedule on Saturday, allowing all competitors their full three discards.

This weekend was a perfect example of what The Chase Sailing Club does best — honouring our past, celebrating the present, and looking forward to the future with passion and community spirit.

Upcoming: Platinum Pursuit - 28th June 2025

Next in our anniversary series is the Platinum Pursuit, a 120-minute race aimed at attracting 70 boats to the water! This will be followed by a summer BBQ, live band, and overnight camping.

Book your spot at chasesc.clubmin.net/events/1056957/bookings

Let's make the rest of the 70th year just as unforgettable.

Stuart Green Sprints Full Results:

Pos	Fleet	Class	Sail No	Helm	Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	Pts
1st	Slow	STREAKER	2176	S McKay		3	‑6	5	1	‑11	1	3	4	1	‑7.5	1	2	3	2	3	29
2nd	Fast	PHANTOM	1437	J Hyland		2	‑11	2	‑10	1	5	6	3	3	‑10	2	8	6.5	1	1	40.5
3rd	Fast	DEVOTI D‑ZERO	77	F Watson		5	(DNS)	4	6	3	2	2	2	6.5	2	‑11	‑16	9	3	2	46.5
4th	Slow	ILCA 6 / Laser Radial	195242	G Flynn		7	2	3	3	5	4	‑13	11	6.5	3	3	‑13	5	‑14	5	57.5
5th	Slow	GP14	13751	R Stringer	P Tate	4	6	9.5	7.5	9.5	6.5	4	‑10	2	4	4	3	1	‑18	‑10.5	61
6th	Slow	SOLO	6076	R Instone		8	‑13	8	9	4	9	1	8	‑10.5	1	7	1	4	4	‑14	64
7th	Fast	SUPERNOVA	1280	J Vyse		6	1	11	7.5	‑13	(DNF)	8	7	10.5	‑14	9	5	2	7.5	4	78.5
8th	Slow	GP14	13956	N Davis	M Evans	9.5	8.5	7	4	7	8	9	9	5	‑12	5	4	‑10	5	‑10.5	81
9th	Slow	ILCA 6 / Laser Radial	210917	E Minton		‑12	10	9.5	2	7	10.5	7	‑15	4	9	6	12	6.5	‑16	9	92.5
10th	Fast	BLAZE	837	G Hyland		‑17	6	14	12	‑23	10.5	‑17	5	8	7.5	8	7	11	7.5	8	104.5
11th	Fast	FINN	658	P Lester		‑15	8.5	12	11	7	‑15	10	12	14	6	15	9	14	6	(DNC)	124.5
12th	Fast	ICON	11	R Lutwyche	D Hopkins	14	4	‑21	5	12	14	12	6	12	‑15	12	(OCS)	12	11	13	127
13th	Fast	PHANTOM	1449	A Froggatt		1	3	1	(OCS)	2	3	5	1	(DNF)	5	(RET)	RET	RET	RET	RET	133
14th	Fast	DEVOTI D‑ZERO	154	M Minton		11	‑16	6	15	14.5	6.5	11	13	15	‑18	‑18	15	8	15	7	137
15th	Fast	RS200	927	H Hopkins	H Alfs	9.5	‑19	15	‑20	9.5	13	15	‑20	13	11	17	17	16	9	17	162
16th	Slow	ENTERPRISE	21810	A Morris	A Hopkinson	‑18	17	16	(DNF)	‑18	18	16	17	16	13	10	14	13	10	12	172
17th	Slow	LigHTNING 368 small	447	A Hopkins		16	15	‑18	14	‑20	17	14	14	‑18	17	13	11	16	12.5	16	175.5
18th	Fast	PHANTOM	1298	M Rudd		‑21	‑20	19.5	16	17	12	‑20	18	17	19	14	10	18	12.5	6	179
19th	Slow	ILCA 7 / Laser	162893	P Rudd		‑20	18	19.5	19	‑21	19	18	19	19	‑20	16	6	16	17	15	201.5
20th	Slow	ILCA 7 / Laser	133604	J Baker		(DNF)	(DNS)	(DNS)	DNS	16	16	19	16	9	16	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	260
21st	Slow	SOLO	5837	L Instone		13	12	13	13	14.5	(DNS)	(DNS)	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	261.5
22nd	Slow	LIGHTNING 368	406	B Westley		19	14	(DNF)	17	19	(DNS)	(DNS)	DNS	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	293
23rd	Slow	LIGHTNING 368	404	C Evans		22	(DNS)	(DNS)	18	22	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	314
24th	Slow	ILCA 7 / Laser	120406	A Whitehouse		(DNF)	(DNS)	17	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	325
25th	Fast	SUPERNOVA	1189	T Chadfield		(DNS)	(DNS)	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	336
25th	Fast	PHANTOM	1403	M Tan		(DNF)	(DNS)	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	336
25th	Slow	LIGHTNING 368	297	S Hopkins		(DNF)	(DNS)	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	336

Commodores Cup Full Results:

Pos	Fleet	Sail No	Helm	Crew	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	Fast	1628	S McKay	J Vyse	‑2	1	1	2
2nd	Slow	6076	R Instone		1	‑3	3	4
3rd	Fast	1450	S Coxon		‑3	2	2	4
4th	Fast	11	R Lutwyche	D Hopkins	‑8	4	5	9
5th	Slow	4563	D Pickering		4	7	(DNS)	11
6th	Fast	927	H Hopkins	H Alfs	5	‑8	6	11
7th	Slow	5837	L Instone		6	5	(DNS)	11
8th	Slow	4676	D Watkins		‑9	9	4	13
9th	Fast	15132	K Mcdonald		7	‑10	8	15
10th	Slow	448	A Hopkins		‑12	12	7	19
11th	Slow	21810	A Morris		10	(NSC)	9	19
12th	Slow	161544	M Evans		‑13	11	10	21
13th	Slow	294	S Hopkins		‑15	13	11	24
14th	Slow	193505	M Cheshire		(RET)	6	DNS	25
15th	Slow	4389	P Gibara		‑16	15	12	27
16th	Slow	169	A Way		14	14	(DNS)	28
17th	Slow	210288	L Kenyon		11	(NSC)	DNS	30
18th	Slow	4955	T Blackham		(RET)	DNS	DNS	38