Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on Thursday 13th September 2018)

A light breeze welcomed competitors for races 3 and 4 of the Dell Quay SC Late Trophy series. 10 boats competed in the Handicap class with a further 10 boats in the Solo fleet. The Solo fleet welcomed back Gordon Barclay, following a skiing injury earlier in the year, new Solo helm Stephen Holcroft and Mark Gardner who swapped his Laser for a Solo for the day.

In the Solo class Mark Harper led race 3 from the start, chased by Martin Jones and Simon Verrall. Harper’s lead was cut short due to a colossal wind shift at Crouchers mark, but he held his lead with Verrall second and Jones third. Race 4 witnessed the same three boats jostling for the lead, with Jones taking line honours this time, leaving Harper second and Verrall third.

In the Handicap class Lizzie Kies, helming a Graduate with crew member Roger Francis, came second in Race 3 and first in Race 4 – an impressive result for a junior. Sue Manning (Laser 4.7) took first place in Race 3 with Jean and Liz Sagues (Lymington Scow) third. Second place in Race 4 went to the Sagues team, with John Glendinning and D Gardner (Wanderer) third.

Simon Verrall leads the Solo series with Richard Bridgmont second and Mark Harper third, whilst in the Handicap class the current leader is Andrew Buchanan with Stephen Holcroft second and Lizzie Kies/Roger Francis third.

Races 5 and 6 in the series will take place on Sunday 23^rd September at 10:30 am.