Results / Itchenor Open Itchenor - 15/06/2002

17 visitors joined 16 boats from the host club to make a total of 33 competitors in the RS 200 open meeting at Itchenor Sailing Club over the weekend of 15/16th June. The first three races on Saturday were held in a steady force 3-4 south westerly breeze. The conditions presented flat water and demanding beats against the tide. Chris Creak, the race officer, set excellent windward leeward courses as well as keeping the fleet fully up to speed on the progress of the England/Denmark match � a means of keeping a number of competitors out of the bar and out on the water! The start of the first race saw the fleet split with boats short taking up either side of the channel to the first windward mark. The first boat round the windward mark was Ian Pickard and Sarah Taylor in 728. They were followed by Hamish Calder and Severine Rees Jones in 756 and then the Itchenor class captain Barnie Hartley crewed by his lovely wife Amanda in 485 �all had correctly chosen the right hand side of the beat. Downwind was a difficult choice between heading for the tidal advantage in the middle of the course or the stronger breeze on either side of the channel. 728 held on to the lead to the finish and though 485 managed to pass 756 to move into 2nd on the following round the result was reversed by the finish. The emphasis in the second and third races was getting a clean start and picking a clear lane on the ensuing beat. The whole fleet beating up the right hand side of the course was a spectacle. Many places were won and lost in the tight and exciting battles that took place. In the second race a closely contested last beat saw 756 winning, followed by 728 in second with Phil Sowden and Anne Cooke third in 773. The third race saw more of the same close competitive sailing where even small mistakes were costly. The finishing order of the race being 728, 773 and 616 sailed by Chris Darling and former National Champion Helen Toms. The real race of the day was home for the famous Itchenor Sailing Club tea followed by the highlights (first half) of the football and dinner in the club. Sunday dawned with the arrival of further familiar faces � old and new to the fleet including Mark and Sam Littlejohn, Tim and Katie Peters and Hayling 200 Class Captain Harry Roome. Those who prised themselves away from the football were in for some close and challenging racing. The race officer got the fourth race off in similar conditions to the previous day apart from a slightly lighter force 2-3 south westerly breeze. The race was led from start to finish by 753 helmed by David Giles and crewed by Fiona Clark. Second was 756 followed by 728 in third. The second race of the day saw the arrival of the sun and with it a tactical change with the left-hand side of the beat paying for the first time during the weekend. 773 took advantage of this to gain a number of places and round the windward mark first on the second windward leg. 773 was unable to hold on to the finish, the race being taken once again by 753, followed by 756 and 482 which was well sailed all weekend by one of Itchenor�s future young stars Rachel Wigmore and crewed by her father Mike. The sixth and final race of the weekend saw the fleet split. Those who took the left hand side of the course gaining a significant advantage by the windward mark. 756 led round the windward mark closely followed by 753. A close battled ensued with 753 sneaking ahead to win followed by 756 in second with 355 Paul Griffiths and Lynne Ratcliffe in third. After allowing for one discard the top five results were as follows:- 1) Hamish Calder and Severine Rees Jones (756) 2) Ian Pickard and Sarah Taylor (728) 3) Paul Hammett, Jane and Sarah (653) 4) Tim Oldham and Katy Nichol (481) 5) Phil Sowden and Anne Cooke (773) The closeness of the racing is reflected by the fact there were 3 points separating 5th and 9th places overall. Bully (ISC)