Swallow Bob Massey winners 2016. Image Carolyn Brigg
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News
SAVE THE DATE!
Start of Season party on Easter Saturday 15th April 2017.
Notice of the Autumn General Meeting
Posted 25th September 2016
Please go to the Members' Area to see the Notice of the Autumn General Meeting, a draft of the minutes of the Spring Meeting and a Proxy Form.
Junior and Youth Winter Training 2016/17
Posted 29th August 2016
Further details and how to enter this winter’s junior and youth winter training programme are available from this link. Just a reminder that the training dates are:
Session 1 - 24th & 25th September - all classes (Mirror, Topper, 420’s)
Session 2 - 22nd & 23rd October - all classes
Session 3 - 17th & 18th December - all classes
Session 4 - 11th & 12th March - all classes
Session 5 - 14th 7 15th April - all classes
Session 6 - 28th & 29th May - Mirror and Toppers Only
International 14 World Championship - Yacht Club Carnac - 21st August to 2nd September
Updated 3rd September 2016
Click here for the schedule of this event.
Final result. Archie Massey/ Harvey Hillary 3rd. Neale Jones/Ed FitzGerald 5th. Click here to go to the results page and other ISC competitors.
Mirror Nationals
Lots of winners! Image Mary Pudney
Please link here to our Mirror Nationals page for reports and results
RS200 NATIONALS - Mount's Bay Sailing Club - 21st to 25th August
Nice 5th overall for George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby in a 96 boat fleet. Catch the final report and the rankings here.
Swift wins Haines Challenge Cup
Posted 23rd August 2016
Image Charles Hyatt
This image shows the two leading Swallows (Gwaihir and Swift) side by side on the run and the then leading XoD (Foxglove) in the background. Swift went on to win after Gwaihir suffrered gear failure.
Youth and Junior Winter training programme 2016/17
Posted 17th August 2016
Following on from the success of the first combined Youth and Junior Winter training programme in 2015/16 we are pleased to confirm that the programme for 2016/17 has now been agreed. Consequently we will shortly be inviting all youth and junior sailors who want improve their skills to apply for the 2016/17 training. For those that took part in the training last year the benefits were clearly seen at JF, with a very strong showing from many of the sailors who participated.
The proposed dates are as follows and have been set, we hope, to work with as many school ‘break’ dates as possible so that the training is available to as many as possible.
Session 1 - 24th & 25th September - all classes (Mirror, Topper, 420’s)
Session 2 - 22nd & 23rd October - all classes
Session 3 - 17th & 18th December - all classes
Session 4 - 11th & 12th March - all classes
Session 5 - 14th 7 15th April - all classes
Session 6 - 28th & 29th May - Mirror and Toppers Only
in order that we can commit to coaches and ensure that we can confirm rib requirements / availability with the club we ask that sailors commit to all sessions. In 2016/17 we won’t be offering one-off / adhoc access to training sessions. We have taken this decision to ensure that those sailors that attend regularly continue to build on the skills learnt in prior sessions. Costs will be advised once budgets have been confirmed.
We are hoping to have the following boats per class:
12-18 Mirrors - 2/3 trains groups based on experience
12 Toppers - 2 groups based on experience
6-12 420’s - 1/2 groups dependent on both skill and numbers
With respect to both the Mirror and Topper classes we have also decided this year (based on last year’s experiences) to set a minimum age for sailors. We want to make sure that all sailors are both willing and able to spend relatively long periods on the water in most conditions. Consequently all sailors applying must be in school year 6 or above - i.e. 10 years or older.
As ever these programmes only take place with much support from parents. We ask that all parents who have children participating commit to a minimum of one and hopefully a maximum of two duties. Our experience from last year suggest that these duties will be advised approximately 2 weeks before each session and parents will be drawn from those who confirm they are attending the session. Typically we will be looking to man between 6-9 ribs with a combination of coaches and safety crew. Where possible this year we will be looking to minimise the use of parent ribs given that many are out of the water for the winter however if you will be keeping a rib in or around the water and are happy for us to use it please let me know.
Last, but by no means least, we are also hoping to replicate the success of the socials that we held to coincide with the weekend. Mixing and matching with wider club socials we plan to have something for all ages to enjoy!
Watch this space and/or your class news for further information.
George Rice
Sailing Manager
Congratulations to Isabel Davies and Gemma Keers
Posted 26th July 2016
Many congratulations to Isabel Davies and Gemma Keers on finishing top British boat and 9th overall in the Ladies 420 World Championships in Marina degli Aregai, Italy. The result means that the girls will represent GBR in the Youth Sailing World Championship in New Zealand this winter.
Round The Island Race 2016
Posted 12th July 2016
Andy Shaw and his team on the diminutive Flying Boat, put in a stunning performance this year in the RTI, winning their class and coming 8th overall in IRC. Below Alistair Shaw tells us about the most enjoyable race he has had for years.
“Despite a bit of a slow start (I forgot the radio so we had to go back), the air was lovely and clear for the first couple of miles. It was just our weather and our old sails did fine with the conditions. Two slabs in the main and the No. 2, 6 of us sitting on the rail and off we went!
By the time we reached the Spinnaker up at The Needles, we were well into our fleet and overtook hundreds on the downwind. We couldn’t hold the spin all the way to St Catherine’s, so took it down for the last mile, but then held it all the way to Bembridge.
It was a fast race, we averaged 7 knots (not bad for a 26ft boat!) along the south of the island and seldom dropped below 10kts!
Andrew helmed brilliantly downwind with Tim Saxton on the sheet, in three jibes we only capsized twice and didn’t lose much time. Pipa and I did most of the running around, with Michael and Rihanna keeping us upright. Andrew’s complete refit of the running gear in the weeks leading up to race paid off as everything worked - a first for Flying Boat! We even managed tea and coffee after St Catherine’s!”
Swallow Nationals 2016
Posted 11th July 2016
We have a new Champion! Carolyn Brigg, David and Ollie Sloper in Marengo triumphed in a breezy championship event in Bembridge this last weekend.
National Swallows National Championships 2016 at Bembridge (9th & 10th July)
Eighteen National Swallows, a near record number, raced over from Itchenor to Bembridge on Friday afternoon in readiness for their 2016 National Championships that were being run for them by Bembridge Sailing Club over the weekend. First to cross the line by quite a margin after a long beat from West Pole was S7, Swift, with S94, Merlin, second and S93, Gwaihir, in third.
The forecast for Saturday was for a South Westerly F5 gusting F6 breeze and at Friday evening’s briefing it was agreed that a steady 25 knots or above would be the limit for racing. After a delay to the original start time to allow crews to safely embark in the launches & RIBs from Colonel’s Hard, the first race got under way 11:30 in a 15 - 17 knot SW’erly breeze and quite unpleasant sea conditions. Almost immediately after the start the wind backed by 45 degees, so the first beat was not as good as planned, however, the windward mark and its spreader were moved for the subsequent rounds, as was the leeward gate, which ensured testing beats. At the front, S82 Marengo helmed by Carolyn Brigg & S86 Migrant helmed by Chris Fox were never far apart and there was only 7 seconds between them at the finish; S66, Buccaneer, helmed by Mike Bond was third and Simon Slater in S87, Echo, was fourth.
The second race started at 12:30 in challenging conditions with gusts of over 20 knots and an increasingly turbulent wave pattern. Avocet and Migrant, were both initially OCS so had some catching up to do in the three round windward-leeward race. Not long after rounding the leeward gate for the first time, Mike Wigmore in S93 Gwaihir had to retire when the clew of their mainsail pulled out and with the breeze increasing as the race progressed, three other boats decided that they had had enough and headed back to their moorings. The downwind leg under spinnaker proved particularly challenging and although there was no further terminal damage, a number of boats broached as the gusts took charge. Out in front, Carolyn Brigg in Marengo proved too strong for the rest and powered to her second win of the day with Harry Roome S3, Skua, second just over 40 seconds later. Franck Petitgas in S61 Quetzal was third, just under 30 seconds ahead of James Hartley in S7, Swift. With the breeze now averaging over 25 knots and the sea conditions becoming even more unpleasant, the Race Officers, lead by Jonathan Peel wisely decided to abandon further racing for the day and so sent the very wet fleet back to their overnight moorings at Under Tyne.
After an excellent Championship dinner at BSC, the crews all met again at Colonels Hard at 10:15 on Sunday morning ready for two and possibly three more races before boats either returned to Itchenor or headed to Cowes ready for Cowes Classic week. The first race started at 11:20 and although it was drizzling, the slightly reduced breeze from the day before and the less turbulent sea conditions made for considerably more pleasant racing. Having had a replacement sail delivered overnight, Mike Wigmore in S93, Gwaihir, proved to be the boat to beat which left the overnight leader Carolyn in Marengo needing to come in the top three if she was to win the Championships. After some very close racing she secured third place behind Harry Roome in Skua and just ahead of Franck Petitgas in Quetzal.
The start of the second race was under the Z flag, following a General Recall; S7, Swift and S86 Migrant both over cooked it and had to not only return but also take a 20% place penalty. Mike Wigmore in Gwaihir again lead the way for most of the race and left Carolyn in Marengo to battle it out with Harry in Skua for second and third, with Franck in Quetzal snapping at their heels. With it clear that it was not going to be possible to have a third race and as it was essential that the Swallows returning to Itchenor could cross Chichester Bar safely, the race was finished at the windward mark after two and a half rounds.
Congratulations to Carolyn and her crew of David and Ollie Sloper in Marengo who finished first overall fand therefore the winner of the Royal Corinthian YC Trophy; second was Mike Wigmore in Gwaihir who just pipped Harry Roome in Skua on a count back; Franck Petitgas in Quetzal was fourth.
An excellent Championships raced in some pretty challenging conditions; grateful thanks to the Race Management team, Mark Layers, Boatmen and other BSC Staff who made it so successful.
Web album (incl video clips): click here
Exclusive ISC Members America's Cup Presentation at Bremont Boutique Mayfair
Posted 8th July 2016
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Over 60 Itchenor Sailing Club members attended an exclusive America's Cup talk at Bremont's Mayfair boutique yesterday evening. The event featured an inspirational and illuminating talk by Mark Covell, ex America’s Cup sailor and Olympic silver medallist, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
One member commented, "It was a fantastic talk, very informative and great to touch base with some other Itchenor folk in a London environment."
Thank you to Bremont for hosting an enjoyable evening and to Lucy Gilchrist for organising.
Another Record Breaking Year for Schools Week
The National Schools Week Championships concluded on Friday with another brilliant day’s sailing. 147 boats competed in total during the week, a new record for the event. A full report will be posted on the website shortly and daily reports can be found by clicking here.
Mary Pudney has captured a lot of the action from both the Feva part of the event and the Firefly/420 one – please see our photo gallery page.
The full results can be found at by clicking here as well as a comprehensive listing of past years.
Please click here to read the 2016 event report.
Antigua Sailing Week
Posted 28th April 2016
We've had this note from the Press Ofice at Antigua Sailing Week.
We are lucky enough to have Team Itchenor Sailing Club competing at Antigua Sailing Week. Yesterday Ian Walker and the team won the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge. He beat Stuart Childerley, our new ASW PRO and the local Antiguan team at the 4th Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge on Presidente Lay Day. There’s two more days left of racing, starting again today and Tony Langley’s TP52, Gladiator has a rising Antiguan young sailor on board, Rhone Kirby. Ian took some time out to offer some advice and answer Rhone’s questions.
Winner of the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge 2016 - Itchenor Sailing Club (Ian Walker, Chris Fox and Richard Bullock) with Kathy Lammers (Chairman, ASW Regatta Organising Committee and Mark Whinney from Nonsuch Bay Resort © Ted Martin
There are 15 members of Itchenor SC racing Swan 46, Milanto at Antigua Sailing Week and the team let out a huge roar as the victorious Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge team joined them for lunch at Catherine's Café Plage. Ian Walker then used a coin in a game of chance to decide which of the team would use the fantastic prize!
"Basically our parents dumped a load of us in Chichester Harbour when we were still in nappies," laughed Walker. "It has been really special to catch up with old friends and to race with them at Antigua Sailing Week."
On behalf of all the teams taking part, Team Itchenor Sailing Club's Ian Walker thanked Nonsuch Bay's Mark Whinney for his hospitality and Antigua Sailing Week's Chairman of the Regatta Organising Committee, Kathy Lammers and her team for putting on a great event with superb race management.
"It was a fantastic event and I'd like to thank the sponsors and Antigua Sailing Week for making it all happen. It was superb race management and we hopefully will get to come back next year to defend our title!"
RS200 Spring Championship
Posted 25th April 2016
Thirty boats enjoyed classic sailing conditions at the RS200 Spring Championships held at Itchenor Sailing Club last weekend. The venue looked beautiful as ever in the bright, but chilly, spring sunshine for one of the biggest events on the RS200 Calendar.
A loose slot gasket meant that one boat never made it to the start line, but for the rest of the teams, race officer Bruce Grant did a fantastic job getting eight very efficient races away in a shifty Northerly.
Think Chichester Harbour and you think tide. It looked as though the current might be the order of the day as two thirds of the fleet was swept over in race one, resulting in an inevitable general recall. With that formality out of the way, the black flag kept most sailors in check for the rest of the day, ensuring everyone got back to the club in time for tea.
The positioning of the course across two channels meant there were a variety of routes to take up the beat and a multitude of different theories about which was best. One race in particular showed that even the locals can be fooled, with almost all of the Itchenor members hitting the left on the first beat, only to find themselves a hundred yards behind the visitors by the windward mark. However, there were clearly some gains to be made by local knowledge, as George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby won race two and Andy Shaw and Pippa Horne won race four.
Tactically there was plenty more than the tide to think about. The breeze went steadily left for most of Saturday and oscillations (both regular and irregular) and gusts (both sudden and sustained) gave the harbour a reservoir feel. Will and Mary Henderson were the most consistent on day one with four top fives, but it was Matt Mee and Emma Norris who held the lead overnight with two firsts and a second.
Sunday was more or less identical to Saturday, with no particular side playing consistently and big gains (or losses) being made on every leg. A few people misjudging the tide and dragging buoys down the run with them, added extra drama to the mark roundings. Also local chandleries may need to stock up on gel coat for the rudders that lost their fights with anchor chains. Matt and Emma again took command on the results sheet, winning the event with a race to spare. Second to ninth were separated by just 14 points, which is testament to the high quality close racing that are the trademarks of Itchenor and RS200 sailing in general.
Results:
1st Burghfield SC/Red Wharf Bay (Matt Mee and Emma Norris)
2nd Itchenor SC (Will And Mary Henderson)
3rd Itchenor SC (George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby)
Izzy Davies and Gemma Keers win the RYA Youth National Championships.
Posted 9th April 2016
Many congratulations to Izzy and to Gemma on winning the International 420 class in the RYA Youth National Championships at Pwllhelli.
Gemma Keers and Izzy Davies won the RYA national Youth Championships in their 420. Our Itchenor girls came up through the ranks of Junior Fortnight in Mirrors, Schools' Week in 420s and fevas and are now pursuing their sailing achievements on the national and world stage. Not only were they the first all-girl boat they also beat all the boys in the Youth Championship. The Youth Championships is the blue ribbon event of the RYA youth programme. It is the final event of a 22 race series over a six week selection period to represent GBR in the summer. Gemma and Izzy also added to their success at the youth championship by also winning the selector series making them the Number One 420 GBR boat currently. They will now go on to represent GBR at the World Championships in San Remo and then on to Lake Banetine for the Junior European Championships. Izzy's twin sister also did well at the youths and selectors and has also been selected to represent GBR in the summer in Italy.
Two other sailors from Itchenor Joanna Kalderon and Paddy Jefferies put up a great fight and narrowly missed selection by a couple of places in the boys/ open fleet.
Izzy Davies said "Gemma and I value so much those early racing days at Itchenor and junior fortnight. We are now looking forward to helping the next generation of Itchenor juniors develop and continue the great tradition the club has of producing great sailors. I couldn’t believe how many Itchenor members texted us to congratulate us...... Thank you all for your support."
CRUISING LOGS
Posted 7th April 2016
Excited to read Ant Fawcett's log of his return on Wotan to Itchenor from the Baltic in 2015? It's a good read, and you can download it here.
INTERNATIONAL 420 UPDATE
Posted 22nd March 2016
The 420 class have just held the first 2 selection events for their GBR teams for the Worlds and Junior Europeans both being held in Europe this Summer. We kicked off with the Racing Dinghies Spring championship last weekend in Torbay. Itchenor sailors were represented on 5 boats, a great turnout from the club in a 36 boat fleet which included 4 boats who travelled from Ireland. After a winter of training in strong winds in Britain, those that had decided to train in Europe benefited from their light wind experience for it was a very light and shifty weekend, but with bright sunshine. Eleanor Keers and Issy Pugh were first under 17 girls outside prizes.
For more information see http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/188363/420-Spring-Championship
The following weekend was the Fernhurst books Inland Championships, held at Draycote Water SC. 45 boats competed. Saturday brought some decent winds, albeit freezing, from the East. Sunday was again light and shifty. Isabel Davies and Gemma Keers played the shifts well, and after a couple of firsts came away as second overall and second girl boat. Eleanor Keers and Issy Pugh strengthened their position for a place in the under 17 worlds by repeating their win of first under 17 girls outside prizes.
The others from Itchenor, Katie Davies, Paddy Jeffries and Jo Kalderon now have all to play for as they go into the last selection event for the teams, the RYA Youth Championships in Pwllheli in a couple of weeks.
Tod Anstee sponsors ISC for a second year
Posted 16th march 2016
We are delighted to welcome Tod Anstee back as sponsors again this year ahead of our 2016 season. The firm of local estate agents will be sponsoring the Itchenor Sailing Club ferry and we are hugely grateful for their on-going support. Having joined Itchenor Sailing Club in 1995, partner John Anstee is a passionate supporter of ours.
John previously worked in South West London for a leading firm of chartered surveyors before relocating to Chichester and co-forming Tod Anstee LLP in 2009 with Sam Tod. Their ambition was to create a trustworthy market-leading family firm that focused on being personable but bold.
Tod Anstee has since become renowned for their great customer service, passion for the region, and the good honest advice they provide their vendors, purchasers, landlords and tenants – making them the perfect fit for our Club!
We would like to welcome the Tod Anstee team on board once again and look forward to seeing them throughout the 2016 season.
RYA National Team Racing Championship
Birdham Bandits WIN Prince Philip Trophy
Posted 14th March 2016
Birdham Bandits, entered as an Itchenor SC team, swept the board to win this prestigious trophy without losing a race. The first day at Bough Beech SC produced only sunshine and a total absence of wind enabling competitors and officials to enjoy the rugby, but the second day produced perfect team racing conditions. After an 0830 first race start, 124 races were sailed with a shifty, gusty and cold northerly wind. In the seeded qualifying stage, the Bandits finished every race with a 1 and 2 position to move easily into the 8 team gold league. Here only the Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society team got within one place of beating the Bandits. The Royal Thames Blue team lost only to the Bandits and these two then contested a 'first to two wins' final which the Bandits won conclusively.
Birdham Bandits (see photo)
George Yeoman, Sam Littlejohn and Tim Saxton; crewed by Sophie Ormsby, Toby Lewis and Poppy Maxwell, plus a few others as Tim's regular crew was unavaliable at the last minute.
Other teams with ISC representation were
Royal Thames Blue (Arthur Henderson and other ex-Cambridge team) who were runners-up to the Bandits
SSCM (Olly Sloper) 2nd in the silver league
Southampton Red (Mary Henderson) 4th in the silver league
Itchenor (Rob Struckett, Rob Gullan and Andy Shaw) 5th in the silver league
My apologies to anyone I have missed.
A further report is at www.teamracing.org and full results are at http://www.events.ksail.co.uk/2016/uktra/index.html
Congratulations to Ben Saxton and Sophie Ainsworth on their selection to Team GB for the Rio Olympics
Posted 9th March 2016
Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth, who finished fifth at the 2015 World Championships, will make their Olympic debuts in the 49erFX – a new event for Rio – with 2015 European Champions Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves following suit in the Nacra 17 mixed multihull event, which also sees its first Olympic Games outing this year.
“I was absolutely ecstatic when we got the phone call to say we were going to the Olympic Games. “There is a lot of work to do between now and the Games, we have a lot of goals that we need to work on so that we are really confident going into the Games. The Olympics only happen once every four years so it’s really special to us and we just want to go in as confident as we can so we can perform on that day.”
Ben Saxton, 25, born in Cambridge and now lives in Weymouth said:
“I’m pretty excited to do two things towards the Games, one is get a medal for Nicola and I, and the other is to support the rest of the sailing team as much as possible. A lot of our foreign competitors are envious of what we have got but I think we’ve a good mix, with the likes of Nick Dempsey and all of his Olympics experience, as well as some youth and enthusiasm. We bring our own skills so I think as a team we will be able to do something quite special in Rio.”
Team GB’s sailing squad for Rio 2016:
Giles Scott: Finn
Nick Thompson: Laser
Alison Young: Laser Radial
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark: 470 Women
Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth: 49erFX
Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves: Nacra 17
Bryony Shaw: RS:X Women
Nick Dempsey: RS:X Men
Itchenor members turned up in force ....
Posted 18th February 2016
Itchenor members turned up in force at the Wessex Winter Warmer team racing event at Spinnaker on February 13th and 14th.
- The Itchenor Sailing Club team was made up of Andy Shaw and Pippa Horne, Rob Struckett and Rosie Sibthorp, and Simon Shaw and Ita Maude Wooller.
- “Birdham Bandits” were George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby, Tim Saxton and Holly Scott, and Sam Littlejohn and Kate Devereux;
- Cathy Marsden was sailing for “Bristol Young Old Boys” (BYOB);
- Olly Sloper and Ed Fitzgerald were sailing for “Softly Softly Catchy Monkey” (SSCM);
- Izzy Fitzgerald was sailing for Exeter University;
- Mary Henderson had been called in to sail for Cambridge University.
Sunday arrived with what Spinnaker is known for - a shifty eight knots and sunshine. The racing was much closer with no easy races due to the fleet split, however SSCM managed to bounce back from their near miss with Gold fleet to take the top spot in Silver, only losing one race, and earning a place in the repechage against 4th in Gold. In the Gold league Birdham Bandits and BYOB were joint top with 7 wins out of 8 with Birdham Bandits taking 1st on count back, booking them both places in the semis. Itchenor and Cambridge had less good days with Itchenor being caught out by the famous Spinnaker shifts on the last beat whilst looking good for an important win against Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society (Society), which saw a Society boat lay the finish from mark four, and did not make the semis.
In the repechage SSCM faced Exeter and eventually went down 2-0 in a close set of races. This meant Birdham Bandits would race Exeter and BYOB would race Society. Both of them were settled 2-0 with Birdham Bandits and BYOB going through to the final.
The best of five final was run in a nice force three. Birdham Bandits were dominant on the starts taking the final 3-0 and having to hold off strong fight backs from BYOB. The shifty conditions allowed lots of opportunities for both teams to come back into races from what looked like losing positions with Birdham Bandits managing to close out the final beats taking every races 1,2,4 and win the Wessex Winter Warmer.
Southampton University took drone video footage of the final races, Birdham in the White boats and BYOB in the Red boats:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hY6_mZYiqI
(Birdham Bandits: Tim Saxton, Holly Scott, Sophie Ormsby, Sam Littlejohn, George Yeoman and Kate Devereux).
With all of these team members looking to enter the UK Open Championships, the Wilson Trophy, it is encouraging to see the strong pool of team racing talent Itchenor currently has. With “Wessex Exempt” (Ben Ainsworth, Kate Gibbs, Jon Pinner, Tom Heywood and Alexa Pinner) taking a holiday for the weekend there could be another Wilson win for Itchenor members.
Ian Walker wins YJA Yachtsman of the Year award
Posted 13th January 2016
Ian Walker was today named boats.com YJA Yachtsman of the Year by the Yachting Journalists' Association at a prestigious awards ceremony.
Ian Walker, from Warsash in Hampshire, became the first British skipper to win the Volvo Ocean Race in the event's 37 year history, when he led Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing to victory in the 2014/15 event. Ian and his team also won the in-port race series and set a 24-hour distance record of an incredible 550.82 nautical miles.
This performance impressed the Country's foremost sailing journalists, with YJA members voting him the eventual winner from a closely contested shortlist of nominees that included Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams from Lymington, and Finn Class champion Giles Scott, from Weymouth.
INTERNATIONAL420 COACHED CHRISTMAS OPEN REGATTA
Posted 20th December
This weekend we were pleased to host 26 420 sailors at Itchenor for the 420 coached winter Open meeting. Alastair Shaw was PRO and ran 11 races over two days for competitors that had travelled from as far as Cornwall, South Wales and Suffolk. Conditions were highly variable with gusts that were hitting 23knts at points. Racing started off opposite the Club on Saturday morning running through to the Bosham Channel and up to Rookwood on Sunday lunchtime. The fleet consisted of a broad range of sailors from those new to the fleet as well as 5 RYA Youth Squad boats. The fleet was coached by Steve Irish, the RYA 470 Podium Potential Squad coach and Tom Mapplebeck of Curra Dinghies. Itchenor were represented by Jo Kalderon and Paddy Jefferies.
Competitors and their families took full advantage of the Clubs facilities and filled the club house with many arriving on the Friday night, enjoying a curry on Saturday night and staying over until Sunday afternoon. It was a delight to see the Club being enjoyed by so many young talented visiting sailors.
ARION FINISHES FIRST IN CLASS IN ARC
Posted 11th December 2015
Douglas Pattison and his crew, Alastair Poulain, Daniel Ayton and Graham Colbourne crossed the finish line of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers First in Class, having finished at 17:00 UTC on the 9th December. Arion, a Sigma 362, sailed a great circle line route from the Canaries. Rated 4th slowest boat, her elapsed time finish at 79th out of 194 competitors signals a fantastic result on corrected time. Congratulations to them and to their support team.
Cruising Dinghies and training available
Itchenor Sailing Club has introduced two new offerings for sailors and would be sailors of all ages. The club has “family friendly” dinghies available for those who wish to cruise the beautiful waters of Chichester Harbour. Training is also available from RYA qualified instructors for those who wish to learn to sail or hone their existing skills. Chris Blevins, rear commodore (sailing) at Itchenor says: “Whilst the club is well known as a premiere racing club and our cruising members can be found making voyages to the Americas and the Arctic Circle, we have recognised a demand for a more gentle form of sailing. Hence the introduction of cruising dinghies.”
Suitable for adults, children or family groups, a RS Vision and a 2000 are on the stage at Itchenor ready for the water. Access to the water is possible at all states of the tide from the club. Members can book one of these dinghies, and some training if required, through George Rice, Sailing Manager at Itchenor Sailing Club on 01243 512400.
