Race Week 2017: just over a week to go
 
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Chichester Harbour Race Week 2017   21-25 August

Hello from the Race Week promotion team

Race Week 2017: just over a week to go

Why should I come?

Ask any regular competitor, whether sailing the latest state-of-the-art asymmetric or a classic wooden Solo, and the word 'brilliant' is heard rather a lot. In a single sentence, Race Week combines a relaxed holiday atmosphere on shore with great competition on the water.

And what of that water?
Let Andrew Gould, regular competitor and winner of a good number of the regatta's prize plates, sum it up: 'Chichester Harbour offers a huge area of relatively flat water that is large enough to get good steady winds. An hour or two either side of high water, which is when the racing takes place, there are miles and miles of navigable water.'

Will the sun shine?
Of course it will, though it's too soon yet to have any reliable forecast of what weather the week will bring. And given how often the meteo gurus get things wrong, even if they aren't too optimistic nearer the event, Hayling Island often has a sunnier microclimate, with associated sea breeze, than points nearby.

Still not decided?
A few days of holiday left, before back-to-work September? There is no better place to spend it. If you don't know this part of the south coast, it is special. Chichester Harbour is the wettest of England's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: on every tide, around 75 million cubic metres of water flow in and out through the harbour entrance, just off Hayling Island SC. The background to the beauty of the harbour is the South Downs, a National Park. On the edge of the AONB are the sandy beaches of West Wittering and Hayling Island; just outside the boundary are historic Portsmouth, with all its maritime attractions, and beautiful Georgian Chichester. A great place to visit, combining sailing with tourism.

Yes, you're coming, so beat the Monday morning rush - sign up now online
Online entry is open until midnight on Saturday August 19th. Packs containing all the essential information plus – thanks to our sponsors – goody bags will be waiting for all signed-up competitors from 1300 on Sunday 20th. In-person entry at HISC runs from 1300 to 1800 that day, and then from 0900 every morning during the week. If you can't come for the full week we'd still love to see you: there are special prices for one-day and two-day entry.

You don't need to rush away
As Race Week ends the Bank Holiday weekend begins, and there are plenty of reasons not to rush home too soon.
On the water, two of the classic harbour club regattas are on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th, at Bosham and Itchenor respectively, followed back at HISC on Bank Holiday Monday by the Cock of the Harbour pursuit race. Visitors are welcome at all of these events.
On land, as well as all the regular attractions, how about taking the kids to see the Tim Peake exhibition at Chichester's Novium Museum (every day 1000 - 1700, 1600 Sunday)? Or you can catch open-air theatre at the Weald & Downland Living Museum (Sunday 27th), listen to open-air music at Eastoke Corner on Hayling (also Sunday) or visit the Emsworth Show (Monday 28th).


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