SUMMER

WELL DONE TO NICK ON SATURDAY AND MELVYN ON SUNDAY

FULL RESULTS ON MAIN HISC SITE

Update September 24th
Saturday - 24 takers in the fresh SE F3-5. The fleet was rather split between those who could work the close reaches, of which the course mostly consisted, and those who couldn’t. Melvyn fell in but still managed to finish 4th behind Nick and then Tony and Tim, yellow-boat-Chris was 5th followed by Barry.
Sunday - an ordinary points race instead of the advertised Mini-Olympics and another good turnout in slightly less breeze but with a tide that meant all the boats had to go the same way on the beats. This included fifteens and elites which did not help. The Olympic course, therefore, became a tad boring for some and rather long! Survivors were headed by Nick, Tim, Rob Hack, Melvyn, and with Barry in front of yellow-boat-Chris today

Update September 10th  HARBOUR CHALLENGE
 The Harbour Challenge consisted of two races to the extremities of the Harbour.
On Saturday, in a blustery easterly, the course went nearly to Dell Quay before making excursions up the Bosham Channel and then Thorney before returning to the finish.
By way of contrast on Sunday, in a light southerly,  we visited the Bridge at Lanstone then up to the visitors pontoon at Emsworth, with a beat back on the top of the tide to finish at Dip Rythe
Saturdays results of the combined slow and fast handicap were dominated by 5 Solos, any of which could have won, as repeated place changing had taken place during the 2 3/4 hours of the race. Melvyn took line honours.
With a larger turnout on Sunday, the 14 Solos had to compete with a total of 40 assorted boats. Chris Powells was the early leader among the Solos but Tim was past him by Bridge Buoy and held on to finish 1st Solo and then 3rd overall. Barry was the most consistent Solo with a 4th on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday ending up 2nd overall in the Harbour Challenge. Bill Ingram won the event in his Wayfarer - but - he will soon be sailing his new Winder!

Update September 3rd     PENNANT SERIES 5 & AUTUMN TROPHY
Saturday racing was abandoned with the wind gusting at 45 knots!
Sunday, the wind reduced to 30 knots and it was  not a day for the faint hearted! However, the Solos still managed to produce the largest fleet with 5 boats out racing. A small Olympic course was set starting near Stocker with the first mark just off the club and with N Pilsey for the wing mark.
In race 1, all 5 boats were very close but Nick arrived first at the windward mark. Johnny caught up by the wing mark but both of them tried a gybe and went splat, encouraging Barry to wear round. Johnny got upright very quickly  however, and was leading at the next mark, followed by Barry, Melvyn, James and Nick. This order remained up the beat and down the run until Barry tried a gybe and bought it. Nick came past him and then passed James upside down on the next reach, and then Melvyn also in the water, to end up 2nd to John. James did not recover well from his messy capsize and so called it a day and Barry just managed to make it home, his kicker snapping as he rounded the windward mark, leaving Melvyn to come in 3rd.
Race 2 had just the three starters and one triangle and sausage, but the racing was all very close with everyone having a go in front. On the 2nd reach Johnny caught up with Nick and they both went high leaving Melvyn to get through to leeward. By the end of the beat Johnny was back in the lead. He then sailed straight to the leeward mark while Nick and Melvyn went left. Johnny wore round but Nick managed a gybe and came screaming in on a reach just behind. It was a short beat to the finish; Nick made the better tacks and managed to power through to win the race, The Pennant 5 and the Autumn Trophy - on the tie break - with Johnny 2nd and Melvyn 3rd.

Update August 27th
Yet another windy weekend with few takers. But a good evening was enjoyed by all at the Catchpoles on Saturday.
Johnny Rees was the only Solo out for the Cock of the Harbour on Monday and he came a creditable 10th in the prevailing F 5-6

Update August 20th
Rather windy weekends so not down to see what was going on!
This weekend was F 4-5 again and only 8 went out on Saturday but 12 on Sunday including Bob Smith.

Update July 27th
505 Pre-worlds. Jane and Barry were ribbing and watched Ian, Sarah’s Husband,  crewing Mark in 8908, go round the leeward mark the wrong way  in the 2nd race, whilst 13/4 mins in the lead! However, they ended up 5th overall and 2nd in the Nationals and are going very fast. Just hope they go the right way next week!

Update July 23rd
Saturday, 6 Solos started off the beach, Melvyn managing to capsize, and some arrived at the start line just as all racing was abandoned due to no wind!
Sunday was better and 14 boats started. Nick led for the first few legs but then he and others, including Ted, who was having a really good race, went off round a little orange rib instead of Gardener! This left Johnny Rees in the lead followed by Chris Powles and Keith. Nick eventually climbed back from 10th to finish 4th.
Meanwhile the Open Meeting at Chichester Y C was in progress with its usual, light fluky winds. Tony sailed round, and having warmed up sufficiently led all the way round the first race. He had, however, shot his bolt and with a 10th to count ended up 6th. David Sayce did a bit better and came 4th while Sarah and Barry, both on their way to the Nationals (together with David) ended up 14th and 18th respectively

Update July 16th
Saturday was a bit windy but about 15 boats went out. Sarah went into the lead but was, unfortunately, the first casualty, going in on a tack on the first beat. Tony got blown flat by a fiendish gust, Chris Powles was rolled in by a motor boat wake and Rob Eastwood bought it on a gybe!. Meanwhile, David Sayce and Nick were battling it out in front until Melvyn got through both of them on the run.
Sunday was Mengham Regatta and barely enough wind. It was, however, on the top of the tide and the course was set over Thorney mud. Tim and David Sayce had a good battle all round with David taking the honours. Rob Eastwood got a lovely lift up the edge of the tide, possibly some sort of lee bow between the ebb and the remaining flood in the middle which got him past Jane. Tony lost a packet on the last beat by staying in the middle where it was still flooding and so Nick ended up 3rd with Rob 4th. Lots of people went round to Mengham for the Tea - it was a glorious spot in the late evening sunshine.  Nick caused some amusement at the prize giving as the photographer was not impressed with his shirtless torso - can’t think why.

Update July 11th                 DELL QUAY DASH
This was a bit of a J B Benefit, with a light reaching and running wind all the way to Dell Quay with occasional bursts of marginal planing puffs. Jane started with Keith, or rather someway behind him as she hadn’t got the timing worked out at all, and 6 minutes behind the first boats. By the beginning of Itchenor reach, only Mike Brown and David Colebrook were left in front of her. David made the mistake of taking the shortest route which was out of the tide and just before Itchenor Jane got a lovely puff which took her past Mike. However, it was not going to be easy. Following puffs all the way through Itchenor and Birdham Pool allowed Mike to continually challenge Jane so it was not in the bag until the final few yards when the wind headed and Jane, up to windward, was able to beat over the finishing line into 1st place. Meanwhile, Tony had been observed way down to leeward in Birdham Pool making very rapid progress unhindered by tree shadow, and he did in fact make up a lot of ground to end up in 3rd place.
Roy Barnes, now belonging to both groups, and much in demand, came up in his Mutoli, carrying several passengers
Lunch, as usual, was excellent in the company of the Social Sailing Section. John Cook was celebrating a birthday of undisclosed vintage, and Mildred produced a scrumptious chocolate cake for everybody to sample. Peter Glasby thanked Jean and Liz Sagues for providing the food and Iris Long, who had organised everything from Hisc end, presented them with some bottles of wine.
It was decided to hold a race for those that wanted on the way back. David Sayce eventually got away from the start down to leeward but out of the tree shadow,  and led the way home, but everyone seemed to enjoy the return trip in a relatively steady F3-4, possibly more than the rather slow outward trip. Except possibly Ted, who lost his very smart hat in Itchenor Reach and in his gyrations to retrieve it managed to capsize. Itchenor Reach is not the best place to do this but fortunately help was at hand in the form of Delia and Alan Clarke in their own rib. At one stage they managed to prevent Ted floating between the hulls of a large cat and then had to lasso a shroud and pull the boat back up tide to get it upright, as by now, in the shallows, the mast was bumping along the mud. Alan had earlier been very useful in helping us carry the boats off the nice soft weed on the shore. Back home, for a reward, Delia finally received her pretty, exotic plant which she had ordered about 18 months ago!
Talking about capsizing, Nick admitted that, last Sunday when his boat had finally found out how to do it, there was no stopping her.

RESULTS OF DELL QUAY DASH

1 4313 Jane Blaydes 8 4279 Melvyn Cooper 2 4585 Mike Brown 9 4505 Barry Blaydes 3 4381 Tony Catchpole 10 4707 Brian Carpenter 4 3934 Keith Garner 11 3757 Bob Smith 5 4414 Clifford Wiles 12 4603 David Sayce 6 4208 Ted Gadd 13 4444 Tim Randall 7 3174 David Colebrook ? 2335 Dell Quay Member ?

Update July 9th
Hi Melvyn’s Dad, he’s in the news again.
Saturday produced some sunshine and 15+/- knots and a rather wriggly course round the nearby cans and out to Calvert. Unfortunately, the SW veered around more and made a bit of a nonsense of the beats. A few people fell in, Bob being the first just off the Mengham spit as he was trying to adjust his boom shot cord. Tim eventually won with Nick in 2nd place. Melvyn got into the lead a couple of times but tangled with a 200 and the second time he lost it, it was because his boom fell off - again. At least 6 people advised him , back ashore, how to fit shot cord retainers, so perhaps he will now.  Tony was 4th with Sarah having her ‘ best race ever’, battling the whole race with her Dad and only just missing out on 5th place.
Meanwhile, ashore, Jane dug a trench for a wheel in the sand on the concrete which continues the West matting. One, Mark Allison (700 and probably a Feva too) had done a grand job and dug a lot of the sand off the East matting but here again there is much left on the concrete inside the park. After the racing, Nick Elliot was spotted and dragged away from the Fifteens to have a look and was rather surprised to find so much sand. He is having a digger coming Monday to clear the sand off the main ramp for the Fifteens and he said he would try and divert it to clear our areas as well! We shall see - wouldn’t it be loverly?
Sunday. 30 -35 knots - did anyone go sailing? Well yes, apparently they did!
The wind dropped to about 20 knots around noon and 6 Solos and a couple of 200s braved the elements. A short course was laid from the Club line round the cans in the lee of the Club and it was reported as being a good spectator sight and one up for the Solos again.
Johnny Rees was first followed by Melvyn, David Biddle, Tony, Rob Eastwood and then Nick(?)

Update July 1st    QEII Full Results

Pennant No 4 and QE 11 Jubilee Personal Handicap Race

Saturday and it was hot with a nice little, fairly steady, Southerly and a flood tide. First mark was placed, rather disastrously, near SW Pilsey, for  the Elites to have enough water. All off to a fair start with Melvyn leading down to leeward over the Thorney bank. There were a few problems with the tide round the mark and Tony latched on long enough for a picnic. The light weights caught up well on the reaches but round the leeward mark rather a lot of people who should have known better forgot the gate! Round the windward mark again and there were difficulties with Fifteens and then the Itchenor keelboats came past going round SW Pilsey. They gave no quarter regardless of tack or point of sailing and barged through the fleet causing several Solos to hit the mark. Although Melvyn held his position on corrected timing, Nick, who had been spotted in the Fifteen park, surreptitiously polishing his rudder blade, and Rob Hack were relegated, and Gerald New came up to second with newcomer, David Charlesworth, in third place in the Handicap placings.
Stuart Bloese was welcomed into the fleet with his boat which has just arrived - 4371.

Sunday - So polishing the rudder blade produced a 1st and a 2nd and a 1st overall in the Pennant 4!
(And Nick also collected his 1st overall for the 3rd Pennant.! Keith was second, followed by David Sayce)
 In the first race, again in a light Southerly, with the 1st mark from Mill Rythe up to near Dunes, Nick led all the way with Tony in 2nd place until he went up the middle of the tide after the gate. Melvyn had a lovely ride on the wave of a motor boat up to Sandy and nearly caught Nick, with Jane battling it out with Keith until he too went the wrong way on the beat. It definitely  paid to crawl over the Thorney shore until one could lay the mark as there appeared to be a different, heading wind on the right of the course.
 In the 2nd race, Tony was well away with James Gaskell also having a good race. The wind had freshened a bit and Jane failed to fend off Johnny Rees and Nick on the beats. Crossing the main channel at this stage was very tricky with multitudes of cruisers coming and going. John, however, was overtaken again on the run to Gardener though he then took advantage of Jane’s rudder lifting and screamed past on the plane towards Sandy. (This sort of behaviour is not normally allowed). Meanwhile, Tony, followed by James, had unfortunately disappeared off the scene having gone round Runway instead of Gardener! Battles royal were going on for the next places, Melvyn managing to keep ahead of Keith; but the finishing orders were all very close.

Pennant 4 Results, Nick, Melvyn and Jane
QE11 Results GERALD NEW WINS JUBILEE TROPHY     with two 2nds

Nature Notes Shirley Wiles and friends had noted a lone plover which had made a nest and laid 4 huge eggs in the middle of the sandy beach. She had marked the place with sticks and then commandeered Jane to put up a rope fence. The bird was watched with some trepidation coming back and investigating everything before settling back on her eggs again. It is to be hoped that the nest will survive various marauding dogs!

Update June 29th
The HISC Solo fleet held a working party this Thursday morning before going on their regular Thursday afternoon sail. They cleared, lifted and re-laid the west matting for launching dinghies down the beach. Also, as can be seen in the picture, the famed ‘road roll’ was laid alongside the matting over the steep, deep sand and into the water, where it floated! This means that it will, hopefully, not cover with sand and should make recovery vastly easier.
Picture - courtesy of Mike Brown.
After lunch 8 boats took to the water. Conditions were ideal for a sail up the harbour on the end of the flood. As they closed on Itchenor, the cruisers of our Social Sailing fleet were encountered on their way back from taking lunch at ISC. The Solos decided the sailing conditions were so good, they sailed straight through the Itchenor reach, past CYC, and regrouped off the quay at Dell Quay. The return to HISC on the flood allowed plenty of time to enjoy the glorious harbour views.

Update June 25th
Saturday produced gorgeous sunshine and a light, but sailable, southerly. Tim got off to a good start and stayed in front all the way. Next in line were Jane and Keith who battled all the way around, Jane finally overtaking Keith on the last run and frantically covering him all up the last beat.
Sunday was dire, according to Tim who only managed a third. The wind was very light and twitchy and just south of east, so the first mark was right by East Head Spit. David Sayce was well away at the start and  he and Rob Eastwood together with the other leaders held on over the Stocker bank, as the tide, by now, was just starting to ebb. After the wing mark, Jane was trying to hold off Johnny Rees when about 10 boats all piled through to windward. Jane luffed up behind them and overtook them all again to windward except John and Sarah who had their own private wind down to leeward. Round the leeward mark, Sarah was heard to yell ‘Water for Mummy only’ and everyone one was very obliging and there was nothing messy, as Melvyn was anticipating, with some glee. On the next beat, Sarah, together with Chris Powells, did her own thing and went right out into the tide where they collected a good lift which enabled them to leebow the tide up the edge of the Stocker bank and lay the windward mark in one hop with just a short hitch on port. On returning to shore, having finished fourth of the 21 competitors, Sarah found that one of her trolley wheels, which she had just pumped up, had exploded, probably when the sun appeared for about 5 minutes.  Adjacent beach bums said they thought that a gun or a bomb had gone off and that the trolley had erupted several feet up into the air! David Sayce, with well oiled bearings, was kind enough to lend a wheel - in retrospect.
Paul Childs had not, as yet, returned from his Inland venturings where we gather he earned a third placing in the Championship. Well Done.