Hadron H2 and D-Zero fleets at Chichester Harbour Race Week 2025

Chichester Harbour Race Week 2025 © Peter Hickson

Ten D-Zeros and four Hadrons lined up on the beach for the first day of CHRW - known to many as Fed Week - one of the biggest and best, in my opinion, dinghy regattas on the UK's South Coast where everyone from weekend sailors to Olympic medallists meet and battle over five days of racing, with races approximately two hours per day all for the potential gain of a small ceramic plate that has been the same design for nearly 60 years.

Here, first class racing is held in a relaxed atmosphere in the tidal yet sheltered waters of Chichester Harbour, with challenges of tides, sea breezes, sandbanks, as well as your own fleet competitors plus many many other dinghies sailing around the harbour to avoid. You'd be right to think that the Hadron H2 and the D-Zero with different handicaps would be a strange mix to sail off the same handicap for the week, though it worked well with the slight differences in boat speeds up and downwind. Previously the RS Aero 9 had been in the mix though declining numbers put them into the fast handicap; sadly this year just one on his lonesome.

Breeze was forecast though started with a soft 7 knots from the South-east, with more forecast. Weeden and Valentine got off to a great start in their D-Zero's leading the fleet off the start, despite a couple of Hadron's chasing hard, and no letup from the pack of D-Zero's following. A double triangle course, had Conway in his Hadron rounding the top mark first with Weeden, Jones, Lloyd-Williams and Valentine rounding soon after, with a fetch down to the wing mark. The Hadron went low along with Weeden, though Valentine went lower to setup a better reach to the wing. Weeden managed to pass Conway, with Valentine just behind, and setoff for the downwind to complete lap one. Weeden rounded with Valentine on his transom, and Conway not far behind.

Valentine and Jenkins had seen some other dinghies going well on the right hand side of the beat, with dark patches of breeze by the yacht moorings, and instead of Conway rounding and heading a long beat to East Head chose right. Weeden trying to cover off both sides, went up the middle. Valentine gained well up the first two-thirds then the wind dropped and sailed nicely into a hole and sat watching others hold the breeze. Conway took the slower longer beat though then picked up some breeze coming off the far beach. Potter in her D-Zero was drifting along nicely and benefited from the lighter puffs to follow the trio. Jones in his D-Zero did even better and despite a little swim, got up to the windward with Conway then passed him on the reach, and held to the finish. 1st Jones, 2nd Conway, 3rd Lloyd-Williams.

Day 2 and the breeze a little stronger, though more southerly, and Valentine disappointed with Mondays result when off the line like a stabbed rat, leaving a number in his wake and shot for the windward. The course was set for 2 laps of a large triangle course, meaning some potential great reaches on two of the legs. Conway was fast upwind in his Hadron and was keen to take advantage of the D-Zero's in the waves. Rounding first, followed by Valentine, and Weeden, Conway setoff down the reach though the D-Zeros superior downwind speed enabled Valentine to pass and not look back, enjoying the reach speed and spray to cool down in some high 20's sun.

Lloyd-Williams and Flewitt in their D-Zero's were doing well and not far off the leaders, followed by Walker in his Hadron, though the D-Zeros on the reaches had pushed the other Hadrons towards the back of the fleet, upwind speed just wasn't sufficient today. Two laps with some great reaches, though with a dying breeze to the leeward mark, Valentine had held on enough with the reaches to stem Conway from taking the win. 1st Valentine, 2nd Conway, 3rd Weeden.

Day 3 and the wind was light, however breeze and some wet stuff from the sky started to appear, along with some thunder rumbling around the bay, and then lightning appeared over Portsmouth and spread to the South Downs in the North. Only a very brave Race Officer would let a load of carbon or aluminium masts take to the waters in lightning so racing was cancelled for the day.

Day 4 and similar good breeze to Tuesday was forecast, wind had swung to the South-west, so a long sail to the start way past East Head and on the way to Chichester. Valentine buoyed by the previous race day's win, took off the start again quickly and had gone to the pin end to avoid some tide and a shorter dash to East Head, though Conway and Jenkins had stayed towards the Committee boat and made good progress to the beach.

Valentine was on their tails with Weeden not far behind, and then a short tack race began up the beach between the three of them. Other Hadrons making a menace of themselves in the waves joined in the tacking frenzy, along with a few other D-Zero's for good measure, though the D-Zero had great speed into the windward mark and lit the afterburners on the first reach sailing a little deeper than Conway and disappeared, with the second reach even quicker sent Jenkins and Valentine scorching away and I am sure Conway had the Jaws music in his head as the two D-Zero's converged each side of him on the first half of the reach and then took control. Valentine slightly lower than Jenkins who was seeking more tide, pulled ahead, then rounded the wing and off on a fantastic reach to take a good lead on the first lap.

Conway tried to make up on the beat though the pressure obviously became too much and he rounded the lower race mark of the Series B fleet and despite Valentine shouting, he went away only to notice Valentine heading South for the windward had to make a rapid tack though lost too much, and with Valentine rounding, lighting the burners and disappearing again, this time the distance on the reaches was too much and Valentine took a great lead using every bit of power to keep pulling away and finished a good few minutes ahead of the chasing pack.

Confusion set in as Valentine finished only to be met with no winners gun, as we were obviously too quick round the course and the Committee race team weren't ready for us. Valentine sailed on just in case after a couple of questions to the finish boat, then saw everyone else heading for home, phew. 1st Valentine, 2nd Jenkins, 3rd Weeden.

Chichester Harbour Race Week 2025 - photo © Photo Neil

The fifth and last day and Valentine in his D-Zero was drawn though leading on countback with a ninth and two wins, of Conway and his Hadron who'd had a couple of seconds and then a seventh. Weeden in his D-Zero was then also just a point behind, then followed Lloyd-Williams in his D-Zero just another point behind, so for sure there was likely to be a few maths calculations during the sailing today, as well as tides, wind, boats etc etc.

With one day cancelled, there was only one discard available so all was to play for on the final day's racing. Some may have wished for racing to be cancelled, though the racing was such great fun, that all were keen to take to the water and seal the deal. The wind had gone more easterly and a different race course of a triangle and sausage was set.

Winds were lightish though sailable, and at the start, Weeden went off with Conway, Valentine trying to cover though couldn't gain boat speed to stay with them. Other D-Zero's and Hadrons were in the mix, and Valentine sailed round the windward in fifth place, chasing Conway at the front, Weeden next, then Lloyd Williams and Flewitt. Looking round, Jenkins was nowhere to be seen and had fallen foul of Flag Uniform and despite rounding the end was duly advised of his misdemeanour and sailed sadly for the bar, however found the wind at the yacht moorings that Valentine had searched for in vain on Monday!

A tricky reach in waves to the wing enabled Weeden to take the lead, Conway sailing a little high though maybe seeking extra tidal flow, Weeden rounded and setoff down the run, chased by Conway, with Valentine still in fifth trying to use all the small waves and wind changes to catchup. Weeden rounded the leeward, Conway behind, Lloyd Williams and Flewitt, then Valentine heading for a long slow beat to the windward ready for the sausage. Valentine gained some height on a lift, and took Lloyd Williams who caught a crab or something and had to sweep the weed away off his foils, Flewitt sailed slightly lower and missed the lift. Weeden rounded the windward, Conway not far behind, then Valentine, and headed down the long long run hoping that the wind held and the tide didn't start to turn.

Weeden went low, Conway slightly higher seeking some more breeze in the yacht moorings, and avoiding the tide which was just changing direction. Valentine followed Conway with Lloyd Williams in close contention. As the leaders rounded, Valentine was in 3rd and had done his maths, just needed to hold 3rd to take the overall win regardless of where Conway finished. Conway wasn't done yet though and pushed Weeden hard all the way to the upwind finish, and another 100m or so and he would have taken the lead, though Weeden held on. 1st Weeden, 2nd Conway, 3rd Valentine.

Valentine had sealed the overall win with two wins and a third, Conway in second with a steady and consistent string of three seconds, and Weeden taking third with a win and two thirds, so just 2 points separating the top three.

Great close racing throughout the week, not allowing anyone to relax or take overall control, and good banter between the D-Zeros and Hadrons and even better racing between the two classes. Maybe the RYA should take note that the handicap probably are incorrect for both classes and something more 1035ish would be better.

Anyway, roll on 2026, lets hope for more D-Zeros and more Hadrons, and maybe the lonely Aero 9 will have seen sense or been able to join the fold?

Thanks to HISC and Chichester Harbour Federation for hosting, and to Bentley Walker and Chichester Harbour Gin for sponsoring, and to all the competitors who made it a great week on and off the water!

Overall Results:

Chichester Harbour Race Week 2025 - photo © Photo Neil