Sussex Police
This page is mainly devoted to the annual Sussex Police Open Regatta, 2013

2013

Sussex Police Dinghy Open Regatta
at Lancing Sailing Club
held on Wednesday, 14th August, 2013.

Report, Results and Picture-gallery below..

Sunshine and a light breeze greeted competitors on arrival for the first Sussex Police regatta to be held at Lancing Sailing Club. It was a mixed group with 5 police and 9 club members a number of whom were juniors which made the event financially viable. Race Officers Gary & Niki Austin were intent on making varied courses.

Race One was a triangle-sausage. The faster handicap boats lead by Bob Trevis in an RS400 were always going to lead up the first beat and by the first leeward mark Dusty Miller had a good lead. Tony Hyland, the only 'travelling visitor' from the Met remained close behind Trevis. However, also ahead of Hyland was local sailor David Trout, fresh from this year's Laser Masters Championship having been first Grand Master. The RS400's were going to have to be very fast to get a good result. Local boy - but no spring chicken - Alan Simmons in the slower handicap Streaker was also well up the fleet. For the downwind sausage leg the asymmetrics were going well out to sea whilst the single-handers making straight for the leeward mark did a lot of rocking and rolling on the waves. Mike Scrivener with his new crew Anne Darling with a Laser 2000 had fellow Sussex competitor Richard Bates (Laser) for company for a time but the Laser gained on the last beat to be well ahead at the finish. The local Toppers spent most of the race in a group, the leaders coming well up in the final results. On corrected time, Simmons in the Streaker was first by 11 seconds from Trout with the first police helm Hyland, third.

Race Two was a 'figure of eight' course. The wind had freshened somewhat on the rising tide. At the start, a number of boats headed along the shoreline whereas other struck out to sea. Thus the fleet became excessively spread out before reaching the windward mark but there seemed no great advantage as the usual suspects made there way in procession on the first reach - Miller leading, Trout second and Hyland third. The course was somewhat complicated by there being orange buoys, black buoys and buoys with black flags. This resulted in the odd helm making for the wrong buoy. Despite Miller looking well ahead on the water, on corrected time it was Trout's race with Simmonds second. Then came the local Toppers who had found the course and conditions well to their liking. Race conditions had produced some capsizes and some retirements including Scrivener who broached on a reach, capsized and eventually came ashore with rudder damage. This finished him for the day. Bob Trevis sailing the other RS400 with his son Andy, was the first police boat.

Race Three was held back-to-back; a 'trapezoid' (sort of). There had been a number of competitors not making the race and just 8 started. The club's recorder showed the wind as 12-15 knots from the South-west. However, conditions were no worse than in the second race and all eight would make the finish. For each race, everyone had been well disciplined for the starts though this time Hyland managed to tip his Laser over just before the gun. He nevertheless got close to Trout on reaching the first windward mark. But ahead was Dusty, intent on getting well up to handicap. Simmons in the Streaker was also doing well but as the fleet spread out the ocean began to look a little empty. By the finish Trout had extended his lead over Hyland who had again aimed for the wrong mark, but recovered. On corrected time, Trout was the winner by over a minute from Miller who had his best result of the day, with Simmonds third.

Congratulations to Dusty Miller and Andy Bullen - the first police boat. Unsurprisingly, Dave Trout won the regatta overall but well pressed throughout the day by Simmons' Streaker. It had been a good day's sailing; conditions couldn't have been better. Lancing Sailing Club is small in size but big in sailing potential. As with most small clubs the atmosphere is very friendly. This is the first time ever that a police regatta has taken place with  the majority of helms on the start line being non-police. The mix of the police competitors combined with local sailors worked fine, made for healthy competition - and the event worth running. It is likely that next year's police regatta will be held there.

R.S.

2012

December, 2011.
Sussex Police Dinghy Sailing Section recently had there AGM and after much discussion it was decided that they will not be running their annual Bexhill Dinghy Open Regatta during 2012.

2011

2010

Click here to view Regatta report, results and pictures for 2010
 

2009

Click here to view Regatta report, results and pictures for 2009
 

Click here to view results from 2002-2008

Sussex Police Sailing Club now maintain their own Internet websites at:
 

New website for Sussex Police Dinghy Sailing Club:
http://spdsc.weebly.com/

New website for Sussex Police Offshore Sailing Club:
http://sposc.weebly.com/