It’s open house at Chichester – and youngsters shine at schools week

Sailing The Chichester Yacht Club Solo and Europe Opens were held on the same day in beautiful sunshine, with the light wind turning into a southerly sea breeze.

In race one the tide was very strong, pushing the boats back from the line, but as the afternoon progressed the tide changed causing a few boats to cross the line early.

The lake area was very busy with neighbours Dell Quay running their regatta at the same time. It made a fine spectacle to see the visiting Itchenor keelboats gracefully sailing through the lake on their way to Dell Quay.

Some 13 boats competed in the Solo Open, with a good representation from CYC and Papercourt.

In race one Alex Butler took the first place followed by Fraser Hayden and Richie Bailey. In races two and three, Ray Collins from Locks Heath SC finished first, followed by Paul Trevan in race two and Butler in race three.

When the series results were calculated, Collins won with a nett score of two, closely followed by Butler on three, with Trevan and Doug Latta both scoring eight.

Four boats competed in the Europe Open, run on the same course as the Solo Open.

The series saw a close race between CYC’S Lucy Boreham and Overy Staithe SC’S Malcolm Moreley.

In race one, Moreley finished ahead, but in the following two races Boreham took first place.

The series winner was Boreham, followed by Moreley, with CYC’S Geoff Newman in third place.

After the racing the competitors enjoyed a race tea. Itchenor Sailing Club held their Schools Sailing Week for the 67th consecutive year.

Conditions in Chichester Harbour were ideal for close to 300 competitors in Fevas and Fireflies from across the country.

After a practice day the Feva fleet of 90-plus engaged in competition for real on Monday and Tuesday with three races each day.

Raulf Berry and Ben Bradley (Portsmouth Grammar) won the first race. Ralph Nevile and Tom Stratton Brown (Eggars School) were second, as they were in the next.

Third were Tom and Tristan Ahlheid.

Ben and Tommy Millard took the second race and Monday’s final race saw the Eggars duo first, followed by the Weydon pair, with Libby and Rosie Thompson from Beaconsfield High in their best place. Tuesday started with Nevile and Stratton Brown leading – consolidated by a second in the next race behind the Ahlheids.

The Weydon crew took first in the final race but it was not enough to overhaul to series lead established by the boys from Eggars.

Firefly racing started on Thursday and the winds were very light and race officer Alastair Shaw had to wait for a sea breeze.

Barty Gray and Adela Wilson took the first race ahead of RGS Guildford crews Oliver Perkins and Nathan Janmohamed, and Matthew Shaw and Sam Rooke.

Will Pank and Seb Gotto from Norwich School put in a very impressive string of first places with only a second in the sixth spoiling the symmetry.