2015 Solo Northern Championship overall

by Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club on 7 Jul 2015 This year Hollingworth Lake hosted the 2015 Solo Northern Series Championship, sponsored by Goacher Sails and provided a wide variety of conditions for sailors to enjoy. Sunday’s racing was for the Travellers Series (separate results shown) while others had joined to compete on Saturday only. The wide variety of conditions did not stop Innes Armstrong being dominant with four race wins out of six races.

In a foretaste of later races, the first started with a general recall and hoisting of the black flag. With a wind strength of Force three to four, with gusts up to five, it was likely that there would be casualties on the track. Ian Hopwood led the fleet away from the start with a long port tack, closely followed by M Honnor as they rounded the windward mark. Planning conditions prevailed on the reaches and Hopwood held off the challenges. However, on the second lap, Hopwood capsized after the gybe and left Armstrong to take the lead which he held to the finish. Hopwood recovered well to overtake several boats and gain runner-up spot, with J Hopkins in third place. There was then a big gap in finishers behind.

The wind eased notably for the second race and shifted towards the north-west. Unfortunately for the three leading boats, including Hopwood, Hopkins and some others, the course was laid through a ‘gate’ after a leeward mark, which they missed, and were subsequently invited to retire. This gave the opportunity for Armstrong to take the lead again and be followed by local sailors, N Brook and C Massey in particular. These three held their places to the finish.

The third race was sailed back-to-back and this time anyone of several boats could be leading on the way to the first mark. Local sailor, M Brennan, sailing closer to the shore, had the starboard advantage into the windward mark and held the lead for much of the first lap until passed by Honnor, Hopkins and Hopwood. Armstrong suffered his worst result in eighth place.

It was a pleasure to sit outside and enjoy a barbecue after racing.

Sunday dawned with a lighter wind from the south-west and, inevitably, some bunching at the windward mark. Oliver Whitehead was able to get away onto the run, but his lead was short-lived as Steve Denison (having joined for Sunday’s racing only) gained the lead and sailed away into an unassailable position. The downwind legs depended on suitable ‘streams’ of wind and Brennan, with local awareness, on the final run gained the second place on the shortened race. T Wright had his best result with a third place while Honnor finiished fourth.

After a filling lunch, the final two races were sailed back-to-back under the black flag. Armstrong got away clear again, followed by A Hatley, Oliver Whitehead, Massey and Denison. While Hatley held his second place, Honnor climbed through to third, and Denison improved to fourth.

The wind freshened for the final race and Armstrong was again into the lead early. Massey was well placed but was unable to hold it. In the end, Honnor was through to runner-up ahead of Denison. So there was no doubt about the winner, with Honnor’s relatively consistent results securing him second overall. Local sailors Massey and Oliver Whitehead were tied on points but Massey’s best race result tilted it in his favour. Armstrong had shown ability to lead in both strong and light winds and deservedly won the event.

Overall results

Rank	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total	Nett
1st	I Armstrong	1	1	(8)	5	1	1	17	9
2nd	M Honnor	(8)	5	1	4	3	2	23	15
3rd	C Massey	5	3	7	(9)	5	9	38	29
4th	O Whitehead	6	6	4	6	7	(DNF)	64	29
5th	N Hornsby	4	4	12	10	(16)	5	51	35
6th	M Brennan	(11)	9	6	2	11	8	47	36
7th	I Hopwood	2	(RAF)	3	12	9	12	73	38
8th	T Wright	(DNF)	10	14	3	10	4	76	41
9th	C Robinson	10	(RAF)	16	7	6	10	84	49
10th	A Fox	7	(RAF)	10	16	17	11	96	61
11th	J Waind	16	(RAF)	17	14	12	6	100	65
12th	D Smith	9	11	13	18	(19)	14	84	65
13th	N Brook	12	2	5	13	(DNF)	DNS	102	67
14th	M Thomas	(DNS)	RAF	9	8	8	7	102	67
15th	S Denison	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	1	4	3	113	78
16th	M Cowan	15	7	11	23	22	(BFD)	113	78
17th	K Vials	18	13	(23)	15	18	15	102	79
18th	B Sprague	17	(RAF)	18	19	13	13	115	80
19th	P Bramwell	21	16	(DNS)	17	14	18	121	86
20th	K Cant	19	15	(21)	20	21	17	113	92
21st	P Beckford	(DNF)	14	19	DNF	15	16	134	99
22nd	C Mather	22	19	22	(24)	20	20	127	103
23rd	J Hopkins	3	(RAF)	2	DNS	DNS	DNS	145	110
24th	A Catto	14	12	15	(BFD)	DNS	DNS	146	111
25th	M McGarry	13	8	(DNS)	BFD	24	DNF	150	115
26th	K Parry	(DNF)	17	26	25	26	23	152	117
27th	A Hatley	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	11	2	BFD	153	118
28th	A Wake	(DNF)	RAF	24	22	23	21	160	125
29th	G Whitehead	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	21	25	19	170	135
30th	N Catto	(DNF)	18	20	DNS	DNS	DNS	178	143
31st	M Whitehead	(DNF)	DNS	DNS	27	28	22	182	147
32nd	R Blackburn	20	(RAF)	25	DNS	DNS	DNS	185	150
33rd	J Walker	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	26	27	DNF	193	158
34th	O Dumbelton	(DNF)	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	210	175