257 boats of the 383 entered for the week, signed out to race on the last day, many thinking that the strong winds of the previous day, which had necessitated all sailing to be cancelled, would run on into Friday.
Competitors woke up to a wind still blowing 30 knots from the northwest on this final day and therefore quite a few decided to pack up. As it transpired the wind did drop to 12-15 knots as forecast and shifted to the southwest to provide a perfect sunny sailing afternoon!
Committee boats for Series A and B were once again in the area of Lowles, with the windward marks on the Winner, the gybe marks near Pivot and Leeward marks by Thorney. However, for the 2nd lap the course setter put the alternate Leeward mark for Series A down the harbour towards Park and gave all but the Fast Asymmetrics a 2-lap course.
By all accounts, the first beat provided plenty of opportunity for gains and losses especially around the Dunes channel area where the sea state was quite kicked up. As the race progressed the thermally enhanced south westerly increased and was gusting 20knots by the end once again giving sailors a thrilling sail.
There seemed to be plenty of incidents in a few of the fleets vying for overall honours. In the Flying 15s, Russell Peters had a coming together with Charles Apthorp while leading, misread the SI’s and only did one turn so had to take an exoneration penalty. That meant Charles took the week on count back. It also meant Richard Jordan won today’s race and with it the Gerald King Cornflake trophy. In the Fast Handicap, overnight leader Judith Massey missed the toe straps, went overboard and broke the tiller extension in the process. This enabled Simon and Jackie Lytton, who finished 2nd on corrected time today, to win the week overall. In the Slow Asymmetrics, Charlie Samson and Esther Heathcote needed to win in their RS400 with Clive and Helen Everest 5th or lower in their RS400. Charlie and Esther duly won but Clive and Helen came in 2nd to win the week. In the Finns, Mike de Courcy’s (HISC) second bullet secured the series and the Itchenor Plate for the last race, ahead of Martin Hughes from Warsash. Mark Macdonald’s (Mengeham) 2nd gave him third overall.
In the 2000s, Jonathan and Matthew Bailey needed to win today for overall honours and they did so in great style. In the Medium Handicap, the largest fleet of the regatta, the Laser Stratos sailed by Nick Martin and Rob Brown (Portchester) secured a second win on corrected time to secure third place. In the Aero 5s, Debbie Calwell’s second place was enough to snatch the overall win from Sarah Smith on equal points. In the Solos, Ian Barnett (CYC) took his second win to win the series one point ahead of Richard Catchpole (Leigh and Loughton).
In Series C, Race Officer Jamie Wilson was anxious to try and make up for the previous lost day, and so Lauren Buckel in the Teras continued her form and set off to lead the fleet only to suffer a broken mast. Not put off she was taken ashore, loaned another mast and was ready to start the second race. Again she took the lead and unbelievably the second mast snapped. Fortunately her consistent performance earlier in the week ensured that she still won the event.
On Series D, the class was anxious to race today to ensure a series, although for many it was an uphill struggle after many were black flagged on Wednesday’s second race. Tom Hewitson with Colin Smith and Anna Wells dominant third win and a second on the last race, made them a clear winner.
At prizegiving a new trophy was awarded to the winner of the Flying Fifteen class by Barbara Palmer, widow of the late legendry Fifteen sailor Roger Palmer who had scripted many articles on how to overcome the courses of Federation/Chichester Harbour Race Week. In the Finn Fleet a special Veteran’s Prize was awarded to Graeme Macdonald, a brown envelope with a 10 shilling note inside, mimicking his prize at the first Federation Regatta in 1963. Thanks were given to the 120 volunteers who ran the week, to hosts Hayling Island Sailing Club, and to event sponsors Bentley Walker, and prize sponsors Raymarine, Optimum Time, Chichester Harbour Gin and Overboard for their generous support.
Next year the event will run from Monday 11th to Friday !5th August 2025.
Robert Macdonald.
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