Chipstead SC Radio Sailing – IOM Met & Southern Championship Race 6 Open Meeting & Met & Southern Championship Overall Prize Giving

01/12/2025
Met & Southern District, Racing Reports

On Saturday 22nd November 2025 ten hardy sailors travelled to Chipstead SC lake to contest Race 6 (Final Round) of the IOM Met & Southern Championship. The wind was from the South, not an ideal direction with its strength varying from light to moderate. A beat and run course was set by Stuart Ord-Hume, whilst Race Officer Peter Crisp welcomed the fleet and carried out the briefing. The briefing welcomed everyone, outlined the usual topics and emphasising the revised port tack rule regarding approach to the windward mark within the zone. Racing then commenced a few minutes after 10:00am.

With Peter Crisp, John Caruana and Mike Lightwing on the start and finish lines. Race one started with a standard two laps and a beat to the finish. The varying wind strength with minor changes in direction made for challenging sailing with Nigel Barrow coming out on top followed closely by Craig Richards and Dave Allinson. However the fleet mostly started well for the rest of the morning with Craig, Nigel and Dave finishing in the first three places all morning. Lunch was taken at 12:20 in the Chipstead SC Club House. to the relief of some competitors as it had been a cold and tiring morning.

After lunch the wind continued from the same direction so no changes were required to the course.

Nigel, Craig and Dave continued to dominated the fleet but Mike McIntyre, Julia Hancock and Robin Aldcroft began to challenge and have first three results.

Stuart had a few hooked on buoy rescues which he did without causing problems to the racing fleet.

The light started to fade and with the temperature dropping, Peter called last race at 16 races. Sailing was then over. Competitors packed boats and sails away, the race team packed the marker buoys and rescue boat away whilst the race results were entered in HMS. Tea and cake was taken in the clubhouse and sailors chatted.

Prizegiving began with some words from Dave Allinson, Chipstead SC Radio Sailing Class Captain. Then Race Officer Peter Crisp thanking his race team of Stuart Ord-Hume, Mike Lightwing and John Caruana for their efforts throughout the day in providing a successful Open Meeting. He then introduced Keith Turtle the Commodore of Chipstead SC who came to present the prizes. Peter thanked Keith for his support of the Radio

Sailing section within Chipstead SC. He also thanked the competitors for the good spirit in which they had sailed all day. The starts and sailing had been highly competitive in the variable winds.

Prizes were then presented by Keith for Race 6 of the Met & Southern Championship as follows

6th Robin Aldcroft Chipstead SC RS
5th Julia Hancock Hampton Court
4th Mike McIntyre Gosport
3rd Dave Allinson Chipstead SC RS
2nd Nigel Barrow Datchet
1st Craig Richards Datchet

Met and Southern Championship

The overall positions of the Met & Southern Championship for 2025 were then calculated and the Trophy and prizes given for the first two places. The Trophy and prizes were presented by Keith Turtle Commodore of Chipstead SC.