Write-Up

Portishead Channel Chop - Portishead, Bristol, UK, 12th March

Congratulations to Chris Jones in winning the Portishead Channel Chop Pursuit Race!
This was the third round of the Sailing Southwest Winter Series. The final two events are the Starcoss Steamer on the 27th March and the Wimbleball Beastie on the 3rd April.

Summary account thanks to Chris Jones;
Glorious sunshine with a blustery but manageable offshore breeze greeted the competitors. The course definitely needed a pen and with a series of close reaches along the shore followed by 2 triangles favoured the RS Aeros. Some crews took a dip when hit by sharp gusts of wind coming over the cliffs. The broad reach out into the more exposed channel was especially exhilarating. 

The Miracle led the fleet out initially chased by a Laser and an OK. Chris Jones in his RS Aero 7 moved into 2nd place on lap 2 of the 5 lap race and took the lead with about 45 minutes still to sail. He then never looked threatened to take the win. The 2018 winners Chris & Jon Gill in their Fireball moved through into 2nd on the penultimate leg of the course followed by the RS400 of Figs Cain & Barney Dearsly.

All in all it was an exciting and well managed days sailing!

Results