MRSC hosted the 2022 Finn Southern Area Championships.
Published 10:31 on 4 Jun 2022
We hosted the 2022 Finn Southern Area Championships over the weekend of 28th and 29th May 2022.
A great entry of 25 sailors travelled from across the country. In order to make the best use of the tide, there was an early briefing and the boats launched soon after 9am. The sun was shining, the harbour looked stunning and a decent north easterly blew the fleet out through Chichester Harbour to Hayling Bay.
Saturday
Race 1
The excellent PRO Robert McDonald and his regular team set a two lap windward-leeward course in Hayling Bay west, a good distance away from the Hayling beach.
The wind was softening as Race 1 began. The left, shoreside appeared tempting with little dark puffs coming off the land but those that stayed out to sea were rewarded with a more consistent breeze funnelling out of Chichester Harbour. At the windward mark Tim Carver ( Warsash SC) lead clearly from Dan Belton (MRSC) and Lawrence Crispin (Stone SC).
The downwind was extremely tricky but generally getting out to sea again seemed safer than the shore side, as again there seemed more pressure flowing from the harbour. At the leeward gate Tim went a little left, in towards the shore and Lawrence kept out to sea. Soon a little right-hand shift allowed Lawrence to tack across the fleet and lead at the final top mark followed by Tim and Dan.
The second downwind was painful for some as small gusts came and went and the unlucky Dan sat in a hole on the right whilst boats piled past. The tide was ripping east to west and care had to be taken not to end up being carried west of the gate.
Our Super Legend Richard Hart was having a brilliant race, showing his usual great seamanship, going the right way and with great pace. By the finish Lawrence was clear ahead of Tim, John Heyes, Richard Hart and Richard Sharp.
The Finns then bobbled around as the Northerly wind disappeared in its fight with the sea breeze. In the and neither won and the PRO signalled the end of the day. The club safety boats quickly scooped up the Finns and towed the fleet back in through the harbour against a very strong tide, in good time to avoid any muddy walks up Mengeham creek.
Special mention must go to Matt Walker who had enthusiastically sailed out late to join us for the scheduled Race 2! The fleet arrived back in the sun at the club to a fantastic tea and a beer or two.
Watch Scott Collison's video of Saturday's race and read the full race report HERE.