Brothers take the win

The Pascal brothers have won the International 14 Autumn Pint

Robin and Martin Pascal have been sailing fast all season in the Bieker 4 International 14 which they bought from Ian Pinnell a year ago. The brothers from Itchenor came off best in a late-season Autumn Pint regatta, held on the top of the tide in Chichester Harbour on Saturday 13 October.

With winds blowing a variable six to 12 knots from the south-east, there were some tricky tactical decisions for the fleet, especially because the windward mark was set so close to the shore.

First to the mark by going left up the beat was Robin and Martin Pascal closely followed by Mark Upton Brown and Martin Gotrell and Andy and Tom Partington, both sailing M12 designs. The Pascals then managed to defend their lead position for most of the race but briefly let the Partingtons through at the top reach mark due to light winds. However, the Pascals reclaimed the lead on the tight reach on the last lap, to win the race.

The second race was a race around the cans in Chichester harbour. The start area was just off Thorney Island with the windward mark being Ellanore followed by a close reach to Mill Rythe. The Partington father and son duo were first around Ellanore closely followed by the brothers Pascal, then Douglas Pattison and Damian Ash, who chose an early kite hoist which put them in the lead by Mill Rythe.

From Mill Rythe there was a long fetch to East Head where another father and son combo, Damon and Alan Roberts, showed great speed and caught right up to the lead two boats. Pattison and Ash defended their lead from the Partingtons to win the race. Meanwhile the Pascals were on a late charge, taking three places before the finish by gunning for the Chidham shore from Park to the Gallon Line out of the ebbing tide to the finish. This gave them a third in the race and overall victory in the 2007 Autumn Pint.

Results:

1-Robin Pascal and Martin Pascal
2-Andy Partington and Tom Partington
3-Douglas Pattison and Damian Ash