Maygers' magic lights up Felpham sailing races

Race officer Bob May and his team are to be congratulated to getting an on-time start week by week.

With four races run so far, early leaders are Guy and Ross Mayger in their RS200 with three wins already. But there’s a long way to go yet and Mark Phillips – second with one win and two seconds – is chasing hard.

Third spot is held by Ryan Breach and Jack Cullen in another RS200 but with finishes of fourth, third and third are vulnerable to challenge, especially from Abi Bentley and Jess Breach in their Feva, who have posted fifth, sixth and fifth. Only a small improvement will move them up the rankings.

Noticeable absentees from the leaderboard are the other top Blaze sailors who must be keeping their powder dry waiting to pounce as the series unfolds. But with such a long and competitive series this could be a dangerous tactic.

Young sailor George Powell is showing how he is getting to grips with his Laser 4.7 this season having achieved a series result sequence of eighth, seventh and sixth.

Last week’s race was sailed in strong sunshine with the wind force three from the south west. The trapezoid shaped course set a good beat with two reaches pleasing the spinnaker boats and a run which enabled partial wave surfing for those with more expertise.

Series results and the event calendar can be found at www.felphamsailing.co.uk

This Saturday, Felpham Sailing Club are marking the Jubilee weekend with a charity sponsored sailing race and the club’s open day.

The Queen and the royal family are well-known as supporters of charities and charitable events and Felpham SC are holding this celebratory eight-hour relay race on Saturday, starting at 10am.

Teams comprise members of the club’s cadet section, youngsters from eight years upwards, who will sail their boats in relays over an eight-hour period. Sponsorship money will be collected during the race, which is in aid of Chestnut Tree House hospice in Angmering.

On the day, the club, located on the prom at Felpham adjacent to the top of Blakes Road, will be open to non-members. There will be the opportunity for visitors to try sailing with an experienced mentor so come and have a go – or enjoy a drink overlooking the fun on the water. The event will conclude with a barbecue from 5pm.

CHICHESTER

There was only a light wind for the Solo open although it did get a little stronger as the day progressed.

Former Dell Quay SC member Steve Ede, now at Ardleigh SC, was dominant on the start lines, leading at the first mark in all three races. He continued his excellent boat speed win all the races.

CYC member Ian Barnett, almost matching Ede for boat speed, finished second in the first and third races.

In the second race Barnett was recalled to go back round the ends for being over the line. Despite this he pulled through the fleet from last to seventh.

Among the rest of the fleet, places changed throughout the racing influenced by the fickle breeze and tide.

Results: 1 Steve Ede (Ardleigh SC), 2 Ian Barnett (CYC), 3 Simon Lomas (Frensham Pond SC).

Races six, seven and eight in the Lady Todd series were held in a stiff breeze and race officer Andy Conway set a simple course in Chichester Basin to suit the conditions.

In the modern/fast fleet, Jonathan and Kate Morley were out in their RS400, being chased by a clutch of Laser 2000s.

They took first in race six, with Peter and Suzy Harrison second. The Harrisons got well into his stride by races seven and eight, keeping well ahead of the other Laser 2000s to take first in both races.

Helen and Mark Green (Laser 2000) had a close race with Chris and Jessie Hodge, also in a Laser 2000, with the Greens third in race six just ahead of the Hodges, who went on to take third in race seven and eight.

In the classic/medium fleet, only two Lasers went out in tricky conditions as the CYC Solos had headed off to Dell Quay for the Solo open.

Ian Payne and John Crawley had close racing, especially in race seven, with Payne taking two firsts and Crawley one.

The Lady Todd series continues this weekend.