Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Shorter version published in the Chichester Observer on 6th November 2014)

Ideal conditions with a force 4 to 5 south-westerly breeze greeted competitors for the Noyce and Ward end of season races at Dell Quay.

The first race was dedicated to the Noyce Trophy, which is for sailors who have won at least one race during the season. Gordon Barclay (Solo) made a good start off the line and kept a small lead to the windward mark, ahead of the faster 2000 boats, by tacking close up to the Copperas shore and avoiding the incoming tide. This was followed by some exciting downwind planing.

By the end of the first lap the 2000 of Anne and Jim Norfolk worked out a good lead from the rest of the fleet on the first leg and rounded first, comfortably ahead of the 2000 sailed by Graham and Fiona Dalton. The 2000s had an exciting race with the Norfolks maintaining their lead until, at the end of the second beat, their progress was halted by a port tacking boat; that incident together with the increase in wind strength allowed the Daltons to pull away and take first on the water.

But it was all very close with the Solos of Bill Dawber and Malcolm Buchanan hot on their heels. Dawber raced around the next lap establishing a comfortable lead over the Solos and remaining close to the leading 2000s.

The last lap saw few changes of position and after handicap calculations were applied the Solos of Dawber and Barclay took first and second places respectively with the Daltons third in their 2000.

The second race, dedicated to the Ward Trophy, provided an opportunity for sailors who hadn’t succeeded in winning a race during the season.

In the Solo fleet Fred Hilgers established the lead soon after crossing the start line and held onto it, until eventually winning the race. Mike Shaw overtook Nikki Buchanan and Mike Dicker to take second place amongst the Solos but was unable to hold off Buchanan who took third place in the race.

The two RS 400s were first to cross the finish line but it was Jim Hailstone in his Laser Radial who took second place on handicap, just 8 seconds behind Hilgers.

Anne and Jim Norfolk Challenging for the Lead