Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on 27th September and 4th October 2018)

Races 5 and 6 of the Dell Quay Sailing Club late Helm Series took place in very light winds, so the Race Officer decided to delay the racing until the wind started to fill in.

Race 5 started in a light westerly, allowing the two RS400s of Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Dormer and Rob Corfield and Lawrence Kies to pull away from the rest of the fleet by the first mark. Fitzgerald and Dormer kept the lead throughout the race closely followed by Corfield and Kies.

The next two places on the water went to the Solos of Mike Shaw and Richard Bridgmont. Handicap adjustments gave Shaw first place followed by Fitzgerald and Dormer, with Bridgmont third. Race 6 was sailed in lighter winds, following a similar pattern, and although Corfield and Kies did briefly take the lead Fitzgerald and Dormer recovered to take first on the water. Bridgmont took first place on handicap with Shaw second and the solo of Gordon Barclay taking third.

Shaw currently leads the series followed by Bridgmont and Barclay.

A very different picture emerged for the Late Trophy racing the following day. Predicted gusts of up to 35 knots in the aftermath of storm Bronagh put off many of the regular racers, leaving only 3 boats entering the handicap races and 4 boats in the Solo class.

Racing took place in a predominantly Northerly Force 5 wind, gusting to Force 6 at times. The wind continued to build in strength leading to the 6th race being abandoned.

Mark Harper took first place in race 5 of the Solo class, with Simon Verrall second and Richard Bridgmont third. With only 2 races to go, Harper currently leads the series with Verrall second and Bridgmont third.

In the handicap race first place went to Sue Manning (Laser 4.7), second place to Andrew Buchanan (Finn) and third to Roger Francis and Lizzie Kies (Graduate). Series leader at this stage is Manning followed by Francis and Kies, with Buchanan third.