Junior Fortnight sails into view

Setting Sail

Itchenor Sailing Club’s busy summer programme continues apace.

At Itchenor Keelboat Week, the new name for Points Week, 51 keelboats enjoyed top-of-the-tide racing in Chichester Harbour.

Race officer Roger Wickens set the National Swallows, Solent Sunbeams and XODS full-length tactically challenging races each day to find a club champion and provide great days on the water.

After a week off the club rolled into Schools Week. First 96 Fevas raced in a unique event where all competitors start together for the six championship races.

Then, as if by magic, all those boats disappeared and 52 Fireflies arrived. This event is predominantly for Year 11 and older sailors and has been held at Itchenor for as long as anyone can remember. More than 25 schools entered teams over the week so the winners can feel prouds.

We now move on to training weeks in preparation for Junior Fortnight, starting July 29. It’s a festival of youth and junior sailing steeped in history but as fresh as the day it was first sailed more than 60 years ago.

Finally, our International 14 skiff sailors wrapped up the first five places in the European Championships at Flensburg, Germany.