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By Harry Roome
This was Itchenor’s first year in the South East Area Series and the club was pleased to welcome 16 visitors in the 29 boat fleet. They arrived to find little wind, in contrast to recent events. Race officer Andy Penman signalled an hour’s postponement with some prospect of a sea breeze later on. Tides were close to springs with a flood tide running through the middle of the day until 3.00 pm.
A course was set in the Thorney Reach and by 12.30 there was a reasonably steady 5 knots of breeze from the south west, giving a fair beat against the strong incoming tide.
The key to the racing was to get clear through the start line and away to the banks out of the strongest tide. Ian Dobson/Katie Restall put their marker down in race 1 with the best start followed by Martyn and Clare Jones. Behind them there was close racing with Tom and Jo Hewitson coming through from mid fleet to take third place at the finish, behind the leading pair.
In race 2 Katrina Gilbert/Jenny Root broke clear at the start and sailed away from the fleet. Hugo and Olwen Fisher looked good away from the start, though it was Hamish Walker/Claire Stubbs who judged the approach to the first windward mark just right to take second place, with the consistent Hewitsons again in third place by the finish.
Race 3 saw the advantage off the start line switch to the left hand side of the course with a port bias line and a weakening tide. Harry and Prue Roome led at the first mark, followed by Philip Pascall/Sue Kalderon. The Hewitsons led the group from the right hand side of the course and worked their way through to the lead. Mike Chapman/Lynne Ratcliffe were always in close contact with the lead group and grabbed second place on the finish line from the Roomes.
The tide was now turning, accompanied by the sea breeze beginning to veer. Attempts to get the fleet away were hampered by over enthusiasm from the sailors and after a general recall and an abandoned start it was clear that the breeze was going to drop and the tide strengthen so racing was abandoned for the day.
This left Tom and Jo Hewitson as winners for the weekend, one point ahead of Katarina Gilbert/Jenny Root and Ian Dobson/Katie Restall who had to be split on their discard; fourth was Hamish Walker/Clare Stubbs with Martyn and Clare Jones the first home team in fifth. Katarina Gilbert was top lady helm and Harry Roome won the Old Man’s prize.
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