Please select your home edition
Edition
ETNZ-STORE-728X90 two TOP

Chichester Harbour Race Week 2024

by Liz Sagues 3 Sep 01:31 NZST 19-23 August 2024
Chichester Harbour Race Week 2024 © Peter Hickson

As Chichester Harbour Race Week 2024 reached its last-day climax, there was still all to sail for in many of the 20 different fleets competing.

The family-friendly yet highly competitive regatta - England's largest and celebrating its 60th edition this year - attracted 383 entries, from Optimists for the youngest sailors to Finns, Flying Fifteens, Hadron H2s, RS Elites and a multitude of other classic and modern designs for their elders. Largest fleet was the medium handicap, closely followed by the RS 200s.

In all, almost 600 sailors, from 59 clubs around the UK and beyond, took part. And 120 volunteers from member clubs of the organisers, Chichester Harbour Federation, ensured all ran smoothly on and off the water, with great support from host club Hayling Island SC.

After winds built over the first three days, Thursday was an enforced rest for everyone, with conditions too wild even for the keelboats to go racing. But on Friday all the classes spread out over the water between Hayling Island and the Sussex shore and enjoyed sunshine and a moderate-to-brisk breeze to end the week with smiles all round.

As the final races started, 13 top placings remained to be decided. There were a few moments of drama, including an embarrassing tumble overboard for the potential winner of the fast handicap fleet and two broken masts in quick succession for the RS Tera leader.

But consistency continued to pay. Most consistent of all was Ukraine's Sofia Naumenko, who led the RS Aero 6 fleet home in every race and was so far ahead in the final one that initially she was overlooked at the finish. It was good practice for the Aero worlds that followed Race Week at HISC.

Others who did well all through the four race days and finished with minimum points after discarding their worst result were David and Fiona Sayce (Fireball, HISC), Matt Currell and David Brand (RS 200, Parkstone YC), Jonathan and Matthew Bailey (2000, Weir Wood SC), Russell Mead (ILCA 6, Lee-on-Solent SC) and Thomas Knight and Sam Machell (RS Feva, Chichester YC).

Entrants from HISC outnumbered those from all other clubs combined by more than two to one, so it was hardly unexpected that they came out top in the contests for the adult and junior club team prizes. The surprise was that Felpham SC were second-placed adult team, ahead of Chichester Harbour clubs with much large entries and the enthusiastic members of Bowmoor SC, who travelled from the Cotswolds with 23 boats, including an RS Elite keelboat.

Race Week 2025 will be held from August 11 to 15. For full 2024 results, a day-by-day blog and photo gallery, go to chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net

Related Articles

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
Predictwind is official partner of Vendee Globe
PredictWind will bring fans into the Vendée Globe action with a world-first Race Weather Centre Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced its official partnership with IMOCA - one of the fastest and most exciting offshore yacht racing classes - to become the exclusive Weather Data Supplier for the Vendée Globe 2024. Posted on 22 Oct
NZ Marine industry celebrates Am Cup Defence
NZ marine technology and innovation is used both by its own and other teams contesting the Cup While New Zealand sailors are considered among the world's best, the country's marine technology and innovation is used both by its own team, and by the teams contesting the America's Cup. Posted on 19 Oct
New facilities attract more superyachts to NZ
Superyacht attraction initiatives paying off as NZ Marine reports $212m superyacht economic boost A new report shows superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season. The report has been released as New Zealand ramps up its superyacht attraction initiatives. Posted on 11 Oct
Cup Spy - Finals - Who dares, wins
The AC75 proved its ability to provide compelling viewing, match racing at speeds touching 55kts Critics of the AC75 and its suitability as a match racer for the America's Cup should be eating their words after Sunday's Blinder in Barcelona Posted on 30 Sep
Check the rules before summer boating starts 
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across mar Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer. Posted on 24 Sep
17 NZ marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey'
Kiwi marinas make big steps in environmental performance : 17 marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey' The $540 million marina and boatyard industry is on a mission to minimise its environmental impact, particularly in relation to coastal water quality. Posted on 21 Sep
Southern Spars at the Monaco Yacht Show
From America's Cup technology to the World's largest sailing catamaran: Connect with Southern Spars The Monaco Yacht Show is the showcase event for innovation in the superyacht industry and as the global leader in high-performance composite rig technology for luxury yachts, Southern Spars is excited to attend again in 2024. Posted on 19 Sep
Youmans Studio Cup Racing 1456x180 BOTTOMHALLSPARS_BANNER_SW_660X82-EVAI BOTTOMCollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOM