Yachting World Dayboat open meeting at Bosham Sailing Club

Yachting World Dayboat open meeting at Bosham © Paul Adams / www.harbourimages.co.uk

The fourteen-boat fleet that gathered for this year's Bosham SC Yachting World Dayboat Open meeting over the weekend of the 17th and 18th May enjoyed champagne sailing conditions. Four visiting boats joined the home fleet for a highly contested four race series which was only decided on the last leg of the final race.

All races were sailed in picturesque Chichester Harbour. The starts were from a committee boat in the Itchenor Reach and, in accordance with recent tradition, the finishes of the last race each day at the iconic Bosham Quay.

For Race 1, the race officer set a challenging course to a windward mark well west of East Head. However, with flat water and a moderate tide the fleet enjoyed the experience and discovered a part of the harbour the home fleet rarely visit!

DB620 (Ian Wheeler & John Mckeand) had the best start and made the early running. They were however quite quickly overhauled by DB653 (Alastair & Jacqui Seaton). On the long downtide run to the finish line DB676 (James & William Hewitt) showing exceptional downwind speed and made up several places but at the finish the order was first DB653, second DB664 (Tim & Gerry Wilcock) and third DB629 (Nick & Rebecca Crang.)

Race 2 started in a 10kn south westerly and involved shorter legs which gave the fleet lots of opportunities for place changing. DB618 (Richard & Laura Lewis) just managed to lead around the windward mark closely followed by DB653 & DB676.

However, at the penultimate mark DB597 (David & Fiona Macfarlane) in fifth place took the opportunity to sail a different course from the leaders and cheat the tide by hugging the Cobnor shore. This manoeuvre proved to be a spectacular success as, by the next mark they had establishes a 100m lead which they held to the finish. They were followed home by DB676 in second place and DB64 (Mark & Sue Ross) in third.

At the end of the first days racing the overall positions were as follows: first DB676 6pts, second DB664 6pts and third DB597 8pts.

When the sailors came ashore, they were treated to a sumptuous cream tea and entertained well into the night by the top DJ Mark Covell.

Yachting World Dayboat open meeting at Bosham - photo © Liz Rickard

Sunday dawned with bright sunshine and pleasant 10 knot south-westerly.

For Race 3 we welcomed back last year's winners Nigel & Isabelle Russell (DB614). They quickly made their mark by being the only boat to sail the left side of the first beat. Most of the rest of the fleet went right and initially DB634 (Peter & Annette Kay looked to have a comfortable lead.

However, the left side proved to be the way to go and DB614 rounded the windward mark with a clear lead which they held to the finish, followed home by DB664 and DB618.

There was everything to play for in the fourth and final race with four boats capable of winning overall and as a result the race proved to be the most highly contested of the series. At the windward mark DB618 had a very short lead ahead of DB676, DB597 and DB634.

Places changed continuously over the next two legs until DB676 made the decisive move. James & William Hewitt sagged to leeward of the group and using their superior downwind speed took a comfortable lead which they held to the finish to take the overall prize. They were followed home by DB621 (Matt & Hugh Straker) and DB634.

Timothy and Gerry Wilcock - Yachting World Dayboat open meeting at Bosham - photo © Paul Adams / www.harbourimages.co.uk

Overall Results: