Report by David Brecknell
On Sunday, July 18th, Chichester Yacht Club held its first ever Open meeting for the RS Feva Class, which is being actively promoted at the Club. This initiative was handsomely supported by “Fat Face,” who sponsored the event with the award of vouchers to accompany the prize glass ware.
Eleven boats entered, all from Harbour clubs – six from CYC, three from Emsworth and two from Hayling Island. The forecast promised south to south westerly breezes increasing from Force Three to Force Five, and this promise was thoroughly fulfilled. Most of the crews were youngsters, but the class is obviously attractive to fathers with young children with an eye to something slightly more dashing than the Mirror, and two combinations of this sort did well. The first race was won by Martin Orton and his daughter Alexandra with the young brothers Peter and Alec Henry second and father John Derbyshire sailing with son Harry third. The Derbyshire duo, in an increasing wind, took races two and three, with the Ortons slipping to second and third, and the Henrys to third and fifth, while behind them brothers George and Jack Yeoman improved from their initial sixth place to a fourth and a second (although in race three James Ponsford, with more weight and muscle substituted for Jack in the increasing wind.) Behind them Simon Kitchen, crewed by Bethany Robson secured fifth place with two fourths to count.
At the prize-giving the first Lady Helm prize was awarded to Jess Derbyshire, crewed by Holly Tucker, and the special prize for tenacity went to Rachel Scarfe who, crewed by Camilla Mapstone, managed to survive to finish in race three despite having had one gear failure after another in their borrowed Feva.
Overall Results:
1st 213 John and Harry Derbyshire, Emsworth SC 2 pts
2nd 469 Martin & Alexandra Orton, CYC, 3 pts
3rd 300 Peter & Alec Henry, Hayling Island SC 5 pts
4th 690 George & Jack Yeoman, CYC 6 pts
5th 310 Simon Kitchen & Bethany Robson, CYC 8 pts
First Lady Helm : Jess Derbyshire
Tenacity Award : Rachel Scarfe & Camilla Mapstone