Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on Thursday 16th August 2018)

 

The continuing fine weather encouraged 18 boats onto the water for the first 4 races of the Dell Quay SC short race series but tricky light wind conditions from the North presented competitors with a bit of a challenge.

In Race one, Graham Dalton (one of 6 Solos taking part) took an early lead in a steady Force 2 breeze which he held almost to the finish until pushed into second place by Sue Manning (Laser radial), who took line honours both on the water and on handicap. Third place on corrected time went to the Lymington Scow of Jean and Liz Sagues.

The second race was a close battle throughout the race between Simon Verrall (Solo) and Mark Gardner (Laser) – so close that the corrected times saw Gardner take first place from Verrall by just 2 seconds, leaving Mike Shaw (Solo) to pick up third place.

In race three, Verrall, just back from the Solo National Championship week at Hayling Island, pulled off a convincing win in light winds, leaving Dalton second and the Sagues team third.

With the tide on the ebb and the wind still dropping Simon Verrall again took the win in race four, with Gardner in second place and Manning third.

Verrall, clearly inspired by the Solo Nationals experience led the series at this point, with Mark Gardner second and Sue Manning third.

Editors Note:

The final two races in the series took place on 26th August with only 3 participants venturing out on the water, leaving Simon Verrall the overall series winner and recipient for the second year running of the Carriage Clock Trophy. Sue Manning takes second place in the series and Nikki Buchanan is third.