Twelve boats turned out for the Chipstead SC Mirror open and coaching weekend on 24-25 September. This event was a south-east Area Zone Squad event for juniors which saw four teams taking part.

On Saturday eight crews enjoyed a good training session in brilliant sunshine under the supervision of RYA race coach James Hughes. The winds were very light and variable which did not help the coach and which proved frustrating at times for the crews, but everyone agreed that the coaching was helpful and the improvement in sailing technique was noticeable by the end of the day.

Sunday dawned grey with light winds but as the day progressed the Sun broke through and the wind increased to 8-10 knots.

The first race was won by Hector and Ben Cisneros from Reading SC who led from the start having taken the best route from the start line in shifty conditions. Chris Swinchatt and Ellie Mair from CSC rounded the windward mark in second but were overtaken by John and Jamie Clementson also from CSC, down wind as they went in pursuit of the leaders. There was then a gap back to fourth place which was eventually taken by Lindsay and Ollie Mair from Rob and Michael Ellis in fifth, both boats from the host club.

The second race again saw John Clementson and Hector Cisneros in an exciting battle around the course in increasing winds. The lead changed several times with both boats taking the other off the course in some great tactical manoeuvres. Hector won again from John after exchanging the lead at least three times up the last beat. Chris Swinchatt and Ellie Mair were again third followed by Ray Smith and Pippa Baagham from Dabchicks in fourth.

In the third race Cisneros and Clementson made an early break from the rest of the fleet with Ray Smith in hot pursuit. Cisneros took the early lead only for Clementson to overtake and start to cover him. Ray Smith could not stay with this pair and was slowly closed down by Swinchatt. Clementson and Cisneros again pushed each other out to the edges of the course in an attempt to gain the upper hand to the extent that at the start of the last beat Swinchatt and Smith found themselves right behind this battling pair.

The lead changed several times up the last beat with Clementson this time taking line honours from Cisneros in second, Swinchatt third again and Smith, and Pippa Baagham fourth.

Overall Results

1st Hector and Ben Cisneros – RSC

2nd John & Jamie Clementson – CSC

3rd, Chris Swinchatt & Ellie Mair – CSC

4th Ray Smith & Pippa Paagham- Dabchicks

First Junior John Peterson & Siobhan Lamb – Whitstable