Dell Quay Sailing Club

(Published in the Chichester Observer on 18th October 2018)

With a Northerly Force 3 wind due to increase throughout the day, 11 competitors rose early for a 09:15 start in race 5 of the DQSC Breakfast Breeze Series. With a pin mark positioned a few hundred yards north of the start line the fleet had an initial beat up the channel towards Fishbourne, riding the incoming tide.

Rob Corfield (RS 400) led the way, closely followed by three Solos and the Finn of Steve Sampson. As the RS 400 extended its lead with a run back down to Copperas West the chasing pack consisted of the Solo’s, led by Richard Bridgmont, closely followed by Mark Harper and Roger Puttock, with Sampson and Duncan Llewelyn (RS Vareo) adding to the close competition.

With a reach across to new racing mark Kiln, before the beat back to the start line, the competitors enjoyed 2 laps of neck-and-neck racing. It wasn’t until the last beat towards the finish line that Bridgmont was eventually caught by Harper. But as they fought it out neck-and-neck, Puttock picked up some good wind shifts to finish just ahead of the other two and behind the RS 400. After application of handicaps first place went to Puttock, with Harper second and Bridgmont third.

Race 6 started in a freshening wind, picking up to a steady Force 4 by the end of this race. Following the same course it was Puttock, who rounded the windward mark first, caught only by the RS 400 which finished just under a minute ahead, concluding the 50 minute race. After handicap applications Puttock took another first place, with Harper second and new Solo sailor Steven Holcroft securing an excellent 3rd place.

With 6 races now sailed in the Series the top three places are held by Solo sailors, with Puttock currently leading, Bridgmont lying in second place and Harper third, with Sue Manning (Laser Radial) challenging the Solos with fourth place.

The two final races in the series are scheduled for Saturday 20th October, starting at 09:00 am.