Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on Thursday 22nd December 2016)

So enthusiastic are Dell Quay SC's Frostbite Series competitors that they were determined to race in their penultimate 2016 event, despite a fast-running tide and a mirror finish on the creek indicating barely a breath of breeze. How could the race officer cope in such circumstances?

The answer was to set a course northwards with the tide and rely on Father Christmas Jeremy and his helpful elves Peter and David aboard their reindeer-nose-red inflatable to finish the race before the current pushed everyone into the Fishbourne mud. A fleet of 13 set off, though two who had crossed the start line too soon couldn't make their way back against the tide. The remaining 11 enjoyed the sunshine, if not the frustrations of seeing positions go from good to bad and sometimes back again as whispers of wind tracked across the water.

First to reach Santa's waterborne grotto was Mike Dicker in his Aero. But Carol Andrews, heading a trio of Solos who finished next, was comfortable winner on handicap, followed by classmates Richard Bridgmont and Mike Shaw, leaving Dicker in fourth place.

The scheduled second race looked out of the question, until race officer Jean Sagues felt a light breeze from the south west and decided he could set a short triangular course close to the club. Though the breeze dropped away on the second lap, with slacker water there was enough for slightly more rewarding racing, and Santa was required only for his safety patrol duties.

Again, Solos took the top three places on corrected time, with first boat home, the RS400 of Peter King and Jamie Prescott, dropping to fourth. Winner was Fred Hilgers, with Andrews second and third going to Simon Verrall, who sensibly sailed close to the quay to avoid the ebbing tide as he approached the finish.

Report and Photos by Liz Sagues