14s Itchenor Gallon

Chips Howarth reports on last weekends race

Sunday 4th July dawned cold and wet but with a nice 10-12 knot southerly breeze. 35 International 14s ventured out into Bracklesham Bay for the Itchenor Gallon race, a very traditional race that involves racing round a sausage/triangle 'Championship' course configuration followed by a feeder leg into Chichester Harbour for a 'round-the-cans' exercise before finishing on the 'Gallon' line up the Itchenor Channel.

After a general recall, the fleet got away on a black flag start for European Champions, James Fawcett/Dave Debrovnic to lead at the windward mark after smashing the right hand corner. A punchy move given the left-to-right tidal flow making it very easy to overstand the windward mark.

Mike Lennon/Barrie Edgington possibly took a smarter route up the first beat, but Mike decided to jump out of his trapese harness 100m from the windward mark and so followed James round in 2nd.

Wind pressure lines down the first run shuffled the pack significantly to see Dick Parker/Dave Cunningham lead from Andy Fitzgerald/Simon Marks with Chips Howarth/Zeb Elliott pulling through from 10th to 3rd by the leeward mark.

The race then settled down (whilst the rain increased) with the leading three swapping position on numerous occasions.

After 3 laps of the 'Bay' course, Andy Fitz led the fleet into the harbour and showing excellent downwind speed for an old-timer pulling out an impressive lead never to be challenged again. Chips Howarth/Zeb Elliott followed round in second with an impressive Martin Jones/Andy Rice pulling up to 3rd.

Andy and Simon finally crossed the finish line after 3 hours of racing to see Beiker 4 design hulls take the first three places.

1st Andy Fitzgerald/Simon Marks
2nd Chips Howarth/Zeb Elliott
3rd Martin Jones/Andy Rice
4th Dick Parker/Dave Cunningham
5th Mike Lennon/Barries Edgington