Chichester Harbour Race Week 2026 - Day 3
by Greg Wells 13 Aug 22:00 NZST
10-14 August 2026
Chichester Harbour Race Week day 3 © Greg Wells
As forecast the wind stayed in the east, but was not as strong as yesterday, and with more south in it. For most less wind of 8 to 10 knots meant less excitement,
For Series A and B the course was set up on 115° with start area once again on the Pilsey sands and windward marks further towards East Head.
Initially, all competitors enjoyed a 10-12 knot breeze allowing trapeze boat crews to stretch their legs. However, as the race progressed the breeze dropped to 5knots and both series A and Series B had to be shortened to 2 rounds.
On Series A the Fast handicap got away after one general recall (the stronger tide today was pushing boats over the line). Once again it was the Merlin Rockets who excelled in these lighter conditions and today it was Simon and Jackie Lytton who won and move into the lead overall.
In the Flying 15's, light wind specialists James Yearsley and Jonny C took their 2nd victory of the week with the consistent Andy Jameson sailing with daughter Martha coming in 2nd. Tim Blackmore made up for the disappointment of yesterday's UFD by recording his 2nd win of the week in the Hadson H2/Devotti D-Zero event.
Michael de Courcy won the Finns today and the overall placings are really close in this class where the racing has been ultra tight. 4 points just separate the top 4 before the discard comes in after the next race.
The Musto skiff sailed by Christian Reynolds had a commanding win today but alas was UFD so the win went instead to Ben Palmer and Rob Ashman in their RS800. As expected, it was the RS400's which dominated the slow asymmetric in the light conditions and Rob Gullan and Jack Holden took line honours and a big win on corrected time.
The over eager 29er fleet once again caused a general recall but once started it was Cass Day and Alex Saunders who made it 2 wins from 3 races. In the RS200, Frances Peters and Chris O'Neill repeated their light wind performance from Monday to be another boat with 2 wins on the scoreboard. This is another class with many boats still in contention.
On Series B In the 2000 class, Medium Handicap and ILCA4 we have 3 teams which have already won the week by recording 3 straight bullets. Well done to Paul and Caroline Fisk in the 2000, Graham and Felix Camm in their National 12 and Ella Gardiner in the ILCA4.
Sarah Pickard from Bowmoor SC won the Aero 7's. Chris Jones was 2nd and remains in overall lead.
Australian, Glen Collings dispelled the theory that Aussies only perform well in a breeze by recording his 2nd win in the Aero 6. He will take some beating overall now. In, the ILCA5 things are hotting up with Debbie Caldwell's win and there are several boats 1,2 or 1,3 scorelines overall.
In the Solo class, Alex Butler didn't sail on day one but has now recorded two wins and looking ominous for the overall win. The consistent Rob Jackson won the ILCA6 today to record scores of 2,2,1 but Thomas Knight was DNC today and has 2 firsts under his belt. One of these will surely win the class overall.
Today, we had the 3rd different winner of the week in the RS Feva with Emily Tyrrell and Isabella Edgecombe from HISC taking the gun. In the RS Teras, Jack Wood has established a 3 point lead overall from Laura Smith in the 11 strong fleet whilst Peter Tyrell is ahead by a similar margin in the 9 strong Optimist fleet.
The Elite OD fleet joined the racing out in Hayling Bay with Ossie Stewart taking a first and second place on the initial day of the six race series. Tomorrow's forecasts suggest a more southerly breeze is likely which may bring a different course for Series A & B.
Event website: chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net