Haapy Harrisons land club sailing title for Chichester

Racing involved dramatic capsizes and help needed from the safety boats.

In the modern/fast fleet, asymmetric sailors were joined by a Fireball demonstrating some classic speed.

In race five CYC sailors Pete and Suzy Harrison got a good start in their Laser 2000 and dominated. They had close competition from the fireball of Chris Turner and Jamie Prestcott (DQSC), wh0 beat them on the water.

The Harrisons were far enough ahead on handicap to take first, the Fireball sliding back to third on handicap.

Chris Hodge and Louise Varley (Laser 2000, CYC) were second.

The wind picked up further between the races gusting up to 25 knots making race six tricky.

While the Laser 2000s mainly stayed upright, many boats including the RS200 of Ian Payne and Meryl Deane capsized. While many struggled to recover and retired, they managed a quick recovery and got back into the race to take fourth. The Harrisons were again first, Hodge and Varley second and Olivia Winther & Ben Thompson third for CYC in a Laser 2000.

Series results: 1 Pete & Suzy Harrison (Laser 2000, CYC), 2 Chris Hodge & Louise Varley (Laser 2000, CYC), 3 Ann & Jim Norfolk (Laser 2000, DQSC).

In the classic fleet Chris Spencer (CYC) put in two excellent races in his Laser with two first places well ahead of Mark Harper (Solo, CYC), who was second in both races.

Phil Ford (Laser, CYC) was third in race five while Malcolm Buchanan (Solo, DQSC) was third in race six.

Series results: 1 Mark Harper (Solo, CYC), 2 Derek Jackman (Solo, CYC), 3 Richard Ede (Solo, DQSC).

In the slow fleet, Stephen Green (CYC) had already won the series - and the mug that goes with it.

FELPHAM

Last week’s races were sailed in near gales - but this week’s weather was far kinder.

With the two autumn series races for the Porte Shield and the Hago Cup in full swing, as well as Sunday’s delayed running of the Ladies’ Cup and the King George V trophy, a busy day brought 19 starters to a competitive start line. The lighter winds suited the five-strong Blaze fleet - four finished in the top five in both Shield races. Their

line-up was interrupted only by Tony Lord in his Solo gaining fifth in the first race and Richard Bentley and Callum Aldous coming third in their Vago for the second.

The Ladies’ Cup was won by Jessica Breach in her Laser 4.7. Paul Hemsley in his Blaze won the second race to take the King George V Trophy.

The wind swung 60 degrees to the south and 12 boats headed off upwind again. The Blazes again found conditions to their liking, taking the first three spots, led by Helmsley with Peter Jones second ahead of Mark Phillips.

Lord posted another good fourth place, this time ahead of Bentley and Aldous.

The series continues until October 21.

n Young sailors from Felpham Sailing Club have been taking part in an event aiming to build on the success of the Olympics.

They were joined by members of Sussex Yacht Club to compete in the annual West sussex OnBoard festival at Lagoon watersports in Hove.

The youngsters, aged eight to 14, competed in fun races in Laser Pico dinghies. Inspired by a summer of Olympic and Paralympic sailing, they also took part in a torch relay on the water.

They had learned to sail through the Royal Yachting Association’s OnBoard scheme, which introduces youngsters to sailing through schools, clubs, training centres and youth groups.

A number of challenges were set. These included stand-up sailing, high-fiving other sailors and even attempting a headstand on the bow of their dinghy.

They also learned the basics of windsurfing.

Sam Rowe, the OnBoard Development Officer who organised the event, said: “We had a fantastic turnout - some kids travelled quite a distance to take part. Despite the building breeze, the sailors all coped very well with minimal capsizes.

“OnBoard is growing in strength in Sussex with the number of young people participating in sailing and windsurfing increasing all the time.”