Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on Thursday 30th November 2017)

The Noyce Memorial Trophy is the final race in the Dell Quay sailing calendar and is for all helms who have won a race during the season. The silver cup was presented to the club in 1936 and attracted ten entrants this year. Those who have not won a race during the season can enter a second race for the Ward Consolation Plate.

The races should have been held just before prize giving but were cancelled due to the weather conditions trailing in the wake of storm “Brian”. Not to be outdone by the weather the two races eventually took place on the 19th November.

With a light 2-4 knot wind from the NW, it was always going to be a challenge for any race officer to set a suitable course for the re-run of these two trophy races. However, Race Officer Mark Harper decided to lay additional race marks in a figure of 8 course to provide a short beat across the estuary, suitably located away from the western tree shadow.

In the Noyce race the 3 crews in the RS400 fleet quickly got away, with Bill Dawber and Claire Power leading the charge, Rob Corfield and Chris Campbell second and Peter King, with Bob Marshall, chasing hard. The strong Dell Quay Solo fleet had at times close racing, with Roger Puttock over time building a good lead over Simon Verrall. Meanwhile, fellow soloists Mike Shaw and John Purdy enjoyed some close competitive racing.

With the wind backing west at times and dropping, and the tide starting to ebb, 3 laps of the custom course were completed in just over 1 hour. Line honours went to Dawber/Power, who also came first on corrected time, to take the Noyce Trophy with Roger Francis (Graduate) second and Puttock third.

In the Ward race, which attracted only 2 entries, Richard Bridgmont (Solo) came in first to claim the trophy, with Roy Dyton (Streaker) in second place.