Toppers' top effort at Bosham ... Cadets turn out in force at Felpham ... Jaguar honour for Orton

On the Saturday, Topper GB’s Jane Birch-Tomlinson and her southern zone group held an open training session. This was superbly marshalled by Rory Caird and his crack team of YHA-qualified coaches.

Some 36 kids participated and they were split into three groups, depending on experience, and benefitted from a blend of classroom-based theory sessions, drills and short races.

Conditions were initially very sunny but the wind built and squalls came through, allowing the trainees to practice their skills under more taxing conditions.

It was gratifying to see that, well after the anticipated finish time for the event, the kids were still engaging Caird and his team in a fascinating debrief session in the club’s multimedia suite, with a lively and humorous debate about race line tactics.

Sunday’s weather started brightly and followed a similar pattern to the previous day.

Michael Camps, principal race officer, soon got the committee boat into place, the racing marks down and the first race under way.

Participants from the national squad and other experienced sailors quickly made for the Itchenor side of the creek and tacked quickly towards the windward mark out of the tide in the shallow water.

The younger and less experienced sailors took a while to implement their training from the previous day.

As the wind built the rescue boats had their work cut out.

Three out of the four scheduled races were completed, but the final race was rightly cancelled when the fleet was hit by rather heavy weather.

Mathew Stephens (Burghfield SC) proved most consistent sailor and won the event with a first and a couple of seconds. Adam Stone (Burghfield) came second, Christopher Cowan (Porchester SC) third, James Cook (RYA) fourth, William Birch-Thomlinson (Hayling Island SC) fifth and Rhiannon Flack (Spinnaker SC) sixth.

Highest-placed Bosham SC helm was Sophia Harper, who came eighth.

A great weekend was had by all and this reflects well on this charming club, eager participants and the army of willing volunteers needed to run the event.

For more details of adult and cadet sailing and racing at Bosham Sailing Club, please contact [email protected]

FELPHAM

Felpham Sailing Club’s cadets have launched their new season. Bad weather meant the outlook was bleak but the wind had abated and the sun was shining as a terrific number of 49 youngsters enjoyed fantastic sailing for this first evening on the water.

The cadet captain expected only the usual committed cadets but the grapevine must have been working overtime as there were more than 12 new families with various young people and lots of enthusiasm.

A representative from the RYA visited the cadets to promote the OnBoard sail training scheme and help with launching. He was impressed with the numbers. Great fun was had on the water with care being taken to remind the youngsters of the low sea temperature at this time of the year and to avoid deliberate capsizing – which they all find fun when the water is warmer.

The older and more experienced cadets helped look after the new cadets both on and off the water.

After sailing was over, and the Safety Boats all tidied away the canteen provided steaming hot home made beef stew for a horde of hungry mouths.