Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Hadron H2 Open at Chichester Yacht Club

by Chris Brown 6 Aug 10:18 UTC 4 August 2024

As dawn broke on a sunny Chichester mud pond, nine veteran sailors, fresh from (watching) the Olympics, arrived with their trusty Hadron H2 weapons which as we know is "the thinking man's single-hander", ready to do battle in the tidal creek.

Accompanied by a fleet of RS400s, racing kicked off in a gentle N/NE 6-8kn, softened by an incoming tide. CYC is a picturesque racing venue but there are numerous tidal snakes and ladders which local boats exploited during the day's racing.

The first race saw the fleet short tacking up the northern shore, with the author checking out the mud adhesion (it's good!), the race being won by Sir (he is H2 royalty) Richard Leftley followed by local interloper Martin Orten in his first H2 race outing! Between races it was confirmed that Richard is the best part of 20kg heavier than Martin, which demonstrates the boats ability to carry helms across a wide range of weights.

The second race was run over the tide change and conditions were now more or less fully powered up in the increasing breeze. The "hiking machine" otherwise known as Richard Leftley again won the race, with Stephen Oliver from Warsash in 2nd place. By the third race, the wind had aligned with the building ebb tide and sailing conditions were full power. A breezy start saw Chris Brown lead the fleet for a while, only to ultimately crumble under the pressure and leave Richard Leftley to complete his hat trick for the day.

For anyone reading this who isn't already a Hadron H2 owner, the Class is a super friendly collection of like-minded individuals and very courteous on the water - all adding to the enjoyment of racing.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st145Richard LeftleyBowmoor SC‑1112
2nd150Stephen OliverWarsash SC‑5235
3rd112Martin OrtonChichester YC23‑75
4th111John CrawleyChichester YC3‑847
5th154Adrian WilliamsWarsash SC‑6628
6th131Roger MillettChichester YC44‑88
7th127Chris BrownMill Creek SC‑75510
8th115Ian PayneChichester YC‑87613
9th114Pete HarrisonChichester YC(DNC)DNCDNC22
9th153Neal LillywhiteBurghfield SC(DNC)DNCDNC22

Related Articles

Hadron H2 Solent Trophy at Warsash
An exhausted Richard Leftley sailed in knowing he had won the Travellers Trophy as well Over the weekend of 5-6 October, Warsash Sailing Club hosted the popular annual H2 event for the Solent Trophy. The event was added extra spice as, this being the final event of the H2 season, the new Travellers Trophy series was also to be decided. Posted on 7 Oct
Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham overall
No wind and no racing on the final day after a superb barbecue at the host club After a super barbecue meal at the host club on the Saturday evening, with a round of drinks provided for all competitors by Chris Brown and Hadron Dinghies, the competitors retired with little expectations for sailing on the final day of the event. Posted on 8 Sep
Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham Day 2
Even damper than day one and with a similar wind strength Day two at Brixham turned out to be even damper than day one and with a similar wind strength (5 knots) we may have expected similar results. But no - a new helm won race 3 and race 4. Posted on 8 Sep
Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham Day 1
Some sunshine, unlike what was forecast Most of the competitors unpacked their boats in torrential rain on the day before the event - and the forecast was for more of the same. But the forecasters were proved wrong (as they often are) and Friday, September 6th, was dry with some sunshine. Posted on 7 Sep
Chichester Harbour Race Week 2024
60th edition attracs 383 entries across 20 different fleets As Chichester Harbour Race Week 2024 reached its last-day climax, there was still all to sail for in many of the 20 different fleets competing. Posted on 2 Sep
Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham Preview
A record number of H2s will be attending in the warm waters of Torbay Next weekend a record number of H2s will be attending the 8th Hadron H2 National Championship. 30% of the entire UK fleet will be competing for three days in the warm waters of Torbay. Posted on 31 Aug
Hadron H2 Open at Deben Yacht Club
An eventful open including a spectacular rain squall Deben Yacht Club held an eventful open meeting for Hadron H2 dinghies on Sunday, 7th July. The weather forecast was 'exciting' to say the least, with anything from sunshine to thunderstorms possible. Posted on 8 Jul
Hadron H2 Inlands at Queen Mary
Not a great day for the heavyweights! 22 Hadron H2's, representing 18 different clubs from the length and breadth of England, arrived at a glassy smooth Queen Mary reservoir for Round 2 of the H2 Travellers Trophy. Posted on 21 May
Hadron H2 Solent Trophy at Warsash
Final event of the H2 season at one of the favourite venues of the class Warsash Sailing Club is one of the favourite venues for the Hadron H2s. The Hamble club hosted the first H2 Nationals in 2017 when every H2 then built attended and we have been back nearly every year since. Posted on 8 Oct 2023
Hadron H2 Nationals 2023 at Highcliffe overall
Final day's breeze a marked contrast to the previous two days The weather forecasters got it right for the third and final day of the H2 Nationals, hosted by Highcliffe SC. In marked contrast to the previous two days of listless, if sunny, weather, grey skies and a strong onshore breeze greeted the competitors. Posted on 18 Sep 2023
Savvy Navvy 2024Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER