Bosham Sailing Club Classic Boat Weekend
A Lapwing 1st and 3rd.
The Classic Boat Revival Weekend at Bosham on Chichester Harbour, West Sussex, is now in its fifth year. The slow handicap fleet was won two years ago by John Fildes in Lapwing 18, Kingfisher, and this year we decided that he should have competition from another Lapwing. Tilly Mattich entered the Classic Boat Weekend and took her Lapwing, Pipit, down to Bosham.
Five races were sailed over two days, three on the Saturday and two on the Sunday. Winds were light on both days, and while the Saturday was overcast, Sunday was sunny. Pipit had a changing crew. On Saturday she was crewed by Charlotte Griffiths, now a Bosham resident but who as Charlotte Wake grew up with Junior Lapwings in Aldeburgh, and on Sunday a local Junior Sailor, Luke Sabin crewed in Pipit, giving all important local knowledge. Kingfisher was sailed by John Fildes and crewed by Charlotte Clay, who Aldeburgh Lapwingers will remember because they travelled up to Aldeburgh for the Lapwing Championships in August.
Most of the rest of the Slow Handicap Fleet was Tideways, but there were also some Chichester Scows, a Christchurch Dragonfly and a Mirror. There were 24 boats in the fleet. It was clear from the outset that the Lapwings were fast, as the two Lapwings were always in the top few boats on the finish, and Kingfisher was first over the line in every race, even if they were pipped to second place in two races on the handicap by Tideway 63. Pipit had a dreadful start in the first race, but sliced through the fleet to come third on the water, and after that had some much better starts and some good racing.
The waters in Chichester Harbour are well suited to Lapwings. They are more sheltered than at Aldeburgh, but also a lot more extensive. The tide is less strong than at Aldeburgh, although there are interesting eddies, especially at intersections of channels. The Lapwings got a lot of attention from local sailors, especially from the large Tideway fleet which is based there, as they expressed opinions that Lapwings might give livelier sailing than the Tideways do. One or two sailors were disappointed when they learned that Lapwings, strictly speaking, should not be sold off the River Alde.
In the final results, Kingfisher came 1st, Tideway 63 came 2nd and Pipit came 3rd. Tilly, who is 14 years old, also won a prize for the youngest helm, which she was by perhaps two decades!
The weekend was very well organised by Bosham Sailing Club, and was extremely enjoyable. Tilly and Pipit are planning to come again next year, and if any other Aldeburgh Lapwings want to make the trip it would only improve the racing.
Pictures can be found under the Gallery tab.
Five races were sailed over two days, three on the Saturday and two on the Sunday. Winds were light on both days, and while the Saturday was overcast, Sunday was sunny. Pipit had a changing crew. On Saturday she was crewed by Charlotte Griffiths, now a Bosham resident but who as Charlotte Wake grew up with Junior Lapwings in Aldeburgh, and on Sunday a local Junior Sailor, Luke Sabin crewed in Pipit, giving all important local knowledge. Kingfisher was sailed by John Fildes and crewed by Charlotte Clay, who Aldeburgh Lapwingers will remember because they travelled up to Aldeburgh for the Lapwing Championships in August.
Most of the rest of the Slow Handicap Fleet was Tideways, but there were also some Chichester Scows, a Christchurch Dragonfly and a Mirror. There were 24 boats in the fleet. It was clear from the outset that the Lapwings were fast, as the two Lapwings were always in the top few boats on the finish, and Kingfisher was first over the line in every race, even if they were pipped to second place in two races on the handicap by Tideway 63. Pipit had a dreadful start in the first race, but sliced through the fleet to come third on the water, and after that had some much better starts and some good racing.
The waters in Chichester Harbour are well suited to Lapwings. They are more sheltered than at Aldeburgh, but also a lot more extensive. The tide is less strong than at Aldeburgh, although there are interesting eddies, especially at intersections of channels. The Lapwings got a lot of attention from local sailors, especially from the large Tideway fleet which is based there, as they expressed opinions that Lapwings might give livelier sailing than the Tideways do. One or two sailors were disappointed when they learned that Lapwings, strictly speaking, should not be sold off the River Alde.
In the final results, Kingfisher came 1st, Tideway 63 came 2nd and Pipit came 3rd. Tilly, who is 14 years old, also won a prize for the youngest helm, which she was by perhaps two decades!
The weekend was very well organised by Bosham Sailing Club, and was extremely enjoyable. Tilly and Pipit are planning to come again next year, and if any other Aldeburgh Lapwings want to make the trip it would only improve the racing.
Pictures can be found under the Gallery tab.