FIRST ESSC ROWING REGATTA - A GREAT SUCCESS!
Published 01:00 on 30 Sep 2024
Emsworth Slipper Sailing Club hosted their first Celtic Longboat rowing regatta on Saturday 5thOctober 2024. Visiting boats arrived from Langstone, CRAC and Emsworth SC,
The weather gods were kind and provided a beautiful day for the competitors, race teams and spectators alike. All of the races were highly competitive and finishes were very close. After racing everyone retired to the bar for well deserved rehydration, excellent food and a lovely prize giving.
After a briefing and breakfast at the club, races were held for Open, Ladies and Mixed crews. The T pontoon was perfect for the crews to change over between the races.
A 2 mile course was set along Thorney Island, starting just north of Little Deep.
This involved a very tough first leg into the tide and breeze followed by a charge back to the finish.
The coxes had to carefully think about the best way down and back up the harbour to minimise and maximise the effects of the tide and breeze.
Rolling starts with timings were the order of the day all brilliantly organised by John HB and his willing team of Angie, Jane and Tim on the committee boat. Richard was also there but solely for the amazing flap jacks.
In the Open race the boats shot off down the harbour.
As they raced back towards the finish they encountered a stream of racing dinghies crossing their course (slight mis communication by the sailing race team) but fortunately no collisions occurred.
This race was followed by the Ladies and finally the Mixed race.
As the day went on the tide began to ease and so the decision whether to stay close to Thorney or stay further out became less obvious.
All of the races were highly competitive and finishes were very close.
The Slipper 'Mixed' team deserves a special mention 2nd in their race with 4 ladies an awesome result against other mixed teams.
Langstone Ladies almost won the ''cock up of the day" prize - missing the finish totally but coming back to finish correctly and still winning their race!.
After racing everyone retired to the bar for well deserved rehydration and a lovely prize giving. Excellent food supplied by Pam and Vince followed with more rehydration.
If you want to watch our next full regatta, it will be on 1st March 2025, Celtic Longboats will be attending from
Langstone Cutters, CRAC , ESC, ESSC, Itchenor, Dell Quay ,Chichester Yacht Club , Bosham
Last updated 21:24 on 19 February 2025