The 2003 National Championships were hosted by Bosham Sailing Club on 14th and 15th June and attended by 21 boats. The winds during the weekend were gentle south easterlies and the fine weather showed Chichester Harbour at its best whilst bringing out plenty of leisure sailors and cruisers, thus adding extra interest to the racing. The other surprise element arrived in the personae of Ian and Jane Porter who, having recently taken over the production of the Wanderer at Emsworth, were determined to demonstrate how well the Wanderer can be raced. Their performance certainly set the usual leading contenders a challenge. It was also interesting to observe how the new chute system helped those crews who had previously hesitated to use a spinnaker.

The BSC OOD, Alan Ferens, set Olympic course for the four races, lengthening the legs on the Sunday. The leader across the start line for the first race was the Porter boat and the rest of the fleet soon found that they had made a good decision by sailing close to the northern shore of the Harbour to avoid the outgoing tide. The Porters crossed the line first, followed by Jack Mann and Adam Wickenden. There was a battle for 3rd place between two Bosham boats, the Coxons and the Cooks, but the Coxons were caught in the tide and finished further down the fleet, fighting for a boat’s length advantage with the Harveys and Colin Gilbert and Steve Clampin. John and Jacquie Bishop from CYC were 4th, followed by Mike and Jonathan Powell, Mike Hamilton and David Oats, and Robin Gabbitas crewed by Gill Vierod, all of whom saw their best results in this race.

The tide had picked up by the start of the second race and most crews had learnt their lesson, edging up the shore towards the windward mark. The Cooks followed the Porters over the start line and took advantage of a wind shift to beat them to the first mark but then lost ground to four boats after fumbling a spinnaker hoist. Mann and Wickenden challenged the Porters, together with Gavin Barr and Mark Skipper, who improved on their poor performance in the first race. Chris and Vicky King took 4th place.

The start of racing on Sunday was delayed due to lack of wind and most Wanderers paddled or were towed to the beach near the start, taking the opportunity for a gossip, and even doing a spot of sunbathing amongst the local gull breeding grounds. When the Force 1-2 breeze arrived the lighter crews had the advantage but again it was the Porters who led the 3rd race, with Barr and Skipper finishing ahead of the Coxons and the Mann-Wickenden boat. The final race was made more challenging by the number of motor cruisers which seemed unaware of the racing and caused problems for the competitors and the OOD team by driving through the finish line. The usual suspects led the fleet at the start, with the Cooks and the Kings enjoying a tussle for 4th place, but these two were unable to catch the Porters, Mann and Barr boats. The Meadowcrofts skilfully avoided the wash from a passing cruiser and sneaked through the line ahead of the Gilbert/Clampin pair and Andy and Michael Peter.

A sociable supper was enjoyed at the Club by 40 competitors and families on Saturday evening. The Handicap prize, set on the results of the first two races, was narrowly won by David and Rosemary Coxon.

Overall results:- [click here for tabulated list of full results]

1st Ian and Jane Porter, HISC
2nd Jack Mann/Adam Wickenden, BASC
3rd Gavin Barr/Mark Skipper, Whitstable YC
4th Michael and Jill Cook, BSC
5th Chris and Vicky King, S.Cerney SC
6th David and Rosemary Coxon, BSC