Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on Thursday 11 August 2016)

There was a good turnout for the final race in the Dell Quay Sailing Club Breakfast Breeze series. The series is aimed at early risers who like to be out on the water early!

The race started in light wind conditions with Richard Ede (Solo) making a good start, arriving ahead of the others at the first mark. At the end of the first lap, Peter King (RS 400) was leading with Ede close behind.

The second lap told a similar story, with Ede and King opening up a large lead, followed by David Maltby (Solo) and John Purdy (Solo). King was first to cross the line with Ede not far behind. Ede won on handicap with Purdy second and Maltby third.

David Maltby wins the series and the Early Riser Trophy. Second place in the series goes to Fred Hilgers (Solo) and third to John Purdy.

A nice sunny day with light northerly winds greeted 11 boats to Dell Quay’s annual 'Up the Creeks’ handicap race. The race officer cleverly set a course including all four Chichester Harbour creeks with the option to shorten at high water.

A short beat up Fishbourne was led by Roger Francis, single handing in his classic wooden Graduate. A dead run down to Westlands suited the Graduate well with two RS400s and Andrew Buchanan (Finn), less suited to the light conditions, unable to break away.

Then on to a beat towards Deep End finally entering Bosham Creek where the race was shortened.  The race positions remained processional on a long broad reach, then a beam reach, back to Dell Quay, with the two RS400s, the Finn and the Graduate battling it out for line honours.

John Purdy (Solo) did well to come back at the leaders and take second place leaving Buchanan third.  The winner though was Roger Francis who comes away from the race with the Horace Gordon Trophy.

Compiled by Andrew Horne with contributions from Richard Ede and Roger Francis