Dell Quay Sailing Club

After what seemed like a very long break, the 2022 dinghy racing season at Dell Quay Sailing Club finally got underway on Saturday the 2nd of April with the Early Helm series. The Dell Quay Early Helm series of races allow competitors to use different boats or rigs such that points are awarded to the helm, rather than the boat or rig. Race Officer Bruce Dupee and the competitors were presented with a cold and sunny, but light to moderate breeze from the North West, which turned out to be more than a little ‘shifty’ as they say in sailing terms….

The Race Officer set a well-balanced windward/leeward course to Fishbourne mark. The RS400 of Jon Wilburn and Lawrence Kies powered away on the first windward leg to Fishbourne mark, followed by the Solos of Peter Binning and Mark Harper. As the race leaders went back down the harbour the wind dropped creating some interesting racing for the fleet – its known as ‘snakes and ladders’…. After two interesting laps where the wind shifted at least 90° during the course of the race, Binning was still leading the Solos with the RS400 pulling away to the finish line in the dying breeze…. It looked like a day to be in an RS400…but…unfortunately, Binning sailed into what’s known as a ‘dead patch of wind’ and Harper overhauled him on the last leg of the course.

It was all now against the clock, and after applying the boat handicaps, Harper took the top podium position followed by Binning and Stephen Holcroft (Solo), tying for second place, with a well-deserved fourth place going to John Purdy (Solo).  

In the second race of the day the RS400 once again led the fleet, followed by Harper in his Solo. Once the handicaps had been applied, Harper took first place again, followed by Holcroft in second place and an improving and delighted Purdy coming in third.

Harper currently leads the series, with Holcroft second and Purdy third.