420 Open at Itchenor Sailing Club

Itchenor 420 Open © James Self

Under the expert guidance of Class Chair and longstanding Itchenor Sailing Club member Piers Shepherd, acting as PRO, the GBR 420 fleet enjoyed a superb opening day of racing.

Four races were completed on Saturday in sparkling autumn conditions, with sunshine overhead and a steady 10-12 knots of breeze filling Chichester Harbour.

In place of the usual 420 championship courses, competitors were treated to a special Itchenor zig-zag layout, cleverly designed to work with the day's tide and wind direction. The format kept sailors on their toes, rewarding sharp tactical thinking and precise boat handling. With the harbour at its best, the fleet revelled in what can only be described as champagne sailing — bright skies, flat water, and just enough breeze to make the racing tactical yet fast.

Sadly, Sunday brought a different story. Despite the race team's best efforts to find a sailable window, the wind never materialised, and racing was abandoned for the day. The four races from Saturday would therefore decide the weekend's honours.

Itchenor 420 Open - photo © James Self

On-the-Water Highlights

Proving he has lost none of his golden touch, veteran 420 sailor Neil Marsden crewed by Olivia Creasy dominated the scoreboard, taking three wins from four races with confident, well-judged sailing. His starts were sharp, upwind pace impressive, and downwind positioning consistently ahead of the fleet.

One of the weekend's most exciting moments came in Race 3, when the youngest competitor, Rupert Garlick crewed by Freddy Jones (both fresh out of the Optimist class), stormed into an early lead. For the first few legs he kept the pressure firmly on Neil and Olivia, showing fearless boat speed calls before being reeled in by the more experienced helms. His performance was a clear sign of emerging talent in the class.

Itchenor 420 Open - photo © James Self

Ashore at Itchenor

As ever, Itchenor Sailing Club delivered its trademark hospitality. Club members volunteered as rescue crews, ensuring safety cover was seamless, while the bar and buttery kept sailors, parents, and supporters well fed and watered throughout the weekend.

Saturday evening saw the 420 sailors swap sailing gear for black tie, gathering for a sumptuous dinner in the clubhouse. The night concluded with a lively disco, where the dance floor was as busy as the start line had been earlier in the day.

The evening was shared with Itchenor's Swallow sailors and the 420 class was extremely grateful to the efforts that Itchenor went to accommodate the class.

Itchenor 420 Open - photo © James Self

Final Thoughts

While the lack of wind on Sunday was a disappointment, the quality of Saturday's racing more than made up for it. The combination of a well-run race programme, inventive course setting, and the welcoming spirit of Itchenor Sailing Club made this a memorable event for the GBR 420 Class. With emerging young talent mixing it with seasoned campaigners, the future of the 420 fleet looks bright.

It was fantastic to see sailors travelling from across the country to Itchenor — from Hollingworth Lake and Budworth in the North, to West Kirby and Cardiff Bay, all the way down to Restronguet — alongside a strong contingent from Chichester Harbour.

A final thanks to our class sponsors Gill Marine and Xtremity.

Overall Results:

Next Event

The next 420 event is the Autumn Championships being hosted by Lymington on 18/19th October, please enter here.