IN THE cold spell, the Easter weekend at Chichester Yacht Club was always going to attract only the hardy sailors.
Those who did venture out enjoyed great sailing conditions, although dry suits or very warm wet suits were the order of the day.
Friday brought an Easter regatta of three races. The wind was a good 15–20-plus knots which brought some tricky conditions.
Racing was run in fast and slow fleets. The asymmetric contingent were made up of 2000s, RS400s and an RS200. It was however
a day for single handers.
While Nick and Roger Elliman (RS400) had a close encounter with a stationary harbour mark tearing their spinnaker and their
main sails, the rest got on with sailing.
Mark Harper (Solo) took two first places but dropped back on the final race. Luke South (Laser) was close behind in races one and two, taking two seconds. Helen and Mark Green in their 2000 took a well-deserved first place in race three.
Results: 1 Mark Harper, 2 Luke South, 3 Helen & Mark Green.
The slow fleet was dominated by Charlie Elliot in his Optimist, winning overall with three first places. Sophie Kirk (Topper) was second and Charlie South (Topper) third. Easter eggs were presented to the winners.
Saturday was given over to adult training run by Peter Harrison and helpers.
Easter Sunday brought First Breath races four and five. Keen sailors took to the water in fast, medium and slow fleets.
In the fast fleet in both races, Jason and Sonia Kirk (RS400) were well ahead on the water, but lost out on handicap.
Helen and Mark Green (2000), showing excellent form this season, kept well ahead of chasing boats to take first place on handicap in both races.
The Kirks managed a second and a third, as did Olivia Winther and Ben Thompson in a 2000.
The series is led by the Greens after five races.
In the medium fleet there was a good turnout, and it was great to see a variety of boats - including John and Pauline Cox out for their first race of the season in their National 12.
However the single-handlers had the best of the conditions, with Jimmy Carter (Laser) gaining two firsts to take the series lead.
Charlie Porter (Laser) had two seconds and Derek Jackman had two third places in his Solo after some close racing with Mark Harper managing to push Harper back into fourth place.
The slow fleet had some of the closest racing between Charlotte Reading and Jessica Carter in Toppers.
Reading took first from Carter in series race four with positions reversed in race five, leaving Jessica leading the series. Izzy Porter in an Optimist managed two third places.
Easter Monday saw a pursuit race for the Mission to Seafarers pennant.
It was the very windy, adding wind chill to the already-chilly temperatures.
Charlie Elliott started out in his Optimist - the slowest boat a good 20 minutes ahead of the next boat.
In the 1hr 40min race, Elliott kept ahead of the chasing pack for well over an hour. In the end Peter Harrison and Josh Hartley (2000) passed him to take the lead. In the final few minutes Elliott was also caught by another two boats.
Elliott managed fourth place, a good achievement in the conditions, as Harrison and Hartley took the honours.
Results: 1 Peter Harrison & Josh Hartley (2000), 2 Tim & Matt Hartley (2000), 3 Derek Jackman (Solo), 4 Charlie Elliott (Optimist).