Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on Thursday 16th November 2017)

Dell Quay Sailing Club celebrated its 2017 racing season with a superb Laying Up Supper, dished up by Chef Roy Dyton and his team of helpers. As is customary at this event trophies and prizes are presented to the winners of the many race series held throughout the year. For the series winners a trophy is awarded with the two runners up each receiving a commemorative mug.

The format of the evening was changed this year to make the evening flow better and add more interest for the non-racing diners. The awarding of prizes was split into three sections, following each course of the meal. In the first section Giles Hall (Rear Commodore Sailing) announced the winners of each series, with Commodore Sue Nash awarding the prizes.

The racing has been dominated this year by new member and Solo sailor Mark Harper. Mark has demonstrated his formidable racing skills by garnering no less than seven trophies, covering both Solo and Handicap race series.

Also demonstrating the strength of the Solo class at Dell Quay was Gordon Barclay who was presented with the Market Cross Salver for the Pursuit Series, the Bransbury Williams Trophy for the Harbour Race and the Martell Challenge Cup for the Bank Holiday Mini Series.

Flying the flag for the Ladies was Laser 4.7 sailor Sue Manning who received the Mary Ross Trophy, for ending up as the highest placed lady helm in both Helm Series, and also came first in the “All The Rest” race and the Regatta Slow Handicap race.

The second section, following the main course, was hosted by Anne Sprules (retiring Rear Commodore House) and her husband, former Commodore Chris Sprules. In this section the prizes for the Victoria Model Yacht Class were awarded, with Simon Bell winning the Spring and Summer series and Rob Nunn the Autumn and Evening Series.

The junior sailors have also done well this year with Edith Ingrams winning the Junior Short Races, Hazel Jones the Junior Early Trophy and Easter Mini-series, and Thomas Machell the Junior Late Trophy series.

After the final course had been cleared away, proceedings were taken over by Beryl Dyton and Honorary Sailing Secretary David Swift who presented the remaining prizes.