Guildford Marine RS Feva Open at Chichester Yacht Club

The traditional Chichester harbour double header had the Chichester leg first this year. The format was 4 races/1 discard.

There was a lovely breeze to begin and quite a bit more by the middle of race 3. After a general they all got clean away and Jovian & Guy shot of like a scalded cat with lovelies from Lymington town, Anna Prescott & Jess Eales in hot pursuit. That was the battle of the day with Jovian/Guy taking three bullets to complement their discarded DSQ – missed out the gate on the windward leg I gather. Anna/Jess took advantage of that to score the other bullet of the day.

Barnaby Blackstone & Will Proud took possession of the lower step on the podium with a good 2,4,4 to beat the fast improving Chay & Stirling Taylor from Burnham. Hugo Andrews and Elliot Spenceley-Corfield are going great guns and are clearly getting the hang of a decent breeze as well. Top guns. Martin Orton as RO did an awesome job and the Chichester ‘beach crowd’ did their club immensely proud, didn’t they Lorraine? And then Guildford Marine’s support was superb and assisted in the prize production stakes as ever. Thank you all.

The story of the day however needs to be annonymised to protect the innocent parties I think we’ll assume they are both female and we’ll give them the same name, say Molly. So the Mollies were going to windward when one of the famous Chi gusts hit. A moment later they found that that once the white water had been sorted out, that a jellyfish of certain proportions was aboard and claiming asylum. Now that clearly wasn’t going to happen! Problem was that it had taken up residence in the leeward part of the crew pit. Front Molly informed Rear Molly that tacking wasn’t an option whilst said beast from the deep was in residence. It was at this point that two other keen and thrusting sailors trapped under them started to ask them voluminously to tack! Apparently it was the more advantageous direction to go. Molly had to respond to these entreaties to tack and so shouted back with ever growing consternation that tacking wasn’t on the cards anytime soon as ‘they had more important issues to deal with than tacking!’. So they didn’t. Meanwhile Millie Gibbons has promised to use her practice day at Chichester to good effect by winning tomorrow at Emsworth. Quite possible too with that bundle of energy known covertly as Gracie Summers – a proper pocket rocket!

Report from Meryl Deane, Chichester Yacht Club

There was a good turn out of 31 RS Feva’s for the Chichester Yacht Club Open meeting on Sunday 1st May 2011. Local boats were joined by sailors from as far away as Guernsey, Bewl, London, Torbay and Cheshire. It was possibly the best sailing day of the weekend with gusty winds of F4-5 which were perhaps enjoyed most by the more experienced sailors. Race Officer Martin Orton set a straightforward course in Chichester Basin for the exciting racing.

The first race was notable for a general recall, with over enthusiasm meaning a number of boats were over. After that the 4 races settled into clean starts.

The sailors enjoyed some very competitive sailing. The front of the fleet was dominated by the superb sailing of Jovian Short & Guy Wilkinson (Torbay SC) who led from the front really only challenged by Anna Prescott & Jess Eales (Lymington Town SC). Jovian & Guy won Races 1,3 & 4. The leading pair made a simple error in Race 2, missing out the gate – and thus being disqualified in that race. This did, however, give Anna & Jess a win in Race 2, securing their second place. These talented young ladies also notched up a 1st & a 4th.

Barnaby Blackstone (Bewl Valley) & William Proud (flying the flag for CYC) managed to achieve an excellent second in Race 2, with a couple of fourths keeping them in the top of the Fleet. Chay & Stirling Taylor (Burnham SC) also did well with a second & a 3rd.

Rumours later abounded about one boat being sailed with an extra crew, in the form of a jelly fish which managed to sneak on board during a gust. Claims of local assistance were denied by the team, who were more anxious about being stung than able to gain from this.

A fabulous days racing was had by all with fantastic help from the safety boats and of course the tea bar. Thanks also to Guildford Marine for sponsoring the event.

Overall Results: