Maidenhead Sailing Club – Solo Open Meeting

by John Ewbank on 13 Apr 2006 Cloudy skies and a steady force 2 from the North West greeted 10 home and 10 guest sailors to the MSC Solo Open. The format for the day was three races, one in the morning and two in the afternoon with the best 2 from 3 to count. Forecast for the day was for the wind to move to the North bringing in sunshine and lighter winds.

Race 1 got off to a clean start. First to the windward mark was Mike Ball closely followed by Godfrey Clark, Ian Ayres, Steve Jones and Keith Smith. On the first run Godfrey Clark went well to starboard and stormed into the lead which he held through to the end followed by Steve Jones, Keith Smith, Mike Ball and Ian Ayres in that order.

Following an excellent lunch, Race 2 saw a course change as the predicted Northerly weather arrived heralding light winds and sunshine. First to the windward mark was Godfrey Clark, closely followed by Ian Ayres, Mike Ball, Steve Sharpe, Rob Powell, John Ewbank and Richard Charles. As the wind lightened still further the fleet started to bunch. Godfrey Clark managed to cross the line first followed by Mike Ball, Ian Ayres, Steve Sharpe and Steve Jones in that order.

Race 3 saw a third course change. First to the windward mark was Dan Goodman being closely trailed by Mike Ball, John Mansfield, Keith Smith and Richard Charles. Approximately 10 minutes into the race the weather turned on its head with the arrival of a hailstorm and squally force 4-5 winds. With numerous capsizes and retirements taking place Dan Goodman very quickly stamped his authority on the fleet with an excellent display of heavy weather sailing. Mike Ball held onto second place with Godfrey Clark finishing in third, closely followed in by Steve Jones, Keith Smith, Keith Meekings and Dave Sanders.

The winner was Godfrey Clark with a maximum two points from his best two races. In second place was Mike Ball and in third Steve Jones.

Final overall positions:
1 Godfrey Clark 4120 Fishers Green 1 1 3 2pts
2 Mike Ball 4508 Papercourt 4 2 2 4
3 Steve Jones 4422 Littleton 2 5 4 6
4 Dan Goodman 4322 Kingsmead 6 9 1 7
5 Ian Ayres 4589 Kingsmead 5 3 DNS 8
6 Keith Smith 4660 Fishers Green 3 8 5 8
7 Steve Sharpe 4593 Reading 9 4 9 13
8 Richard Charles 4110 Silver Wing 11 6 8 14
9 Dave Sanders 4679 Papercourt 7 15 7 14
10 Keith Meekings 4252 Maidenhead 12 11 6 17
11 John Ewbank 4378 Maidenhead 13 7 10 17
12 Rob Powell 4614 Maidenhead 8 10 RTD 18
13 Claire Clark 4215 Fishers Green 10 13 RTD 23
14 Kevin Hastings 1605 Maidenhead 15 17 11 26
15 John Mansfield 4591 Maidenhead 14 12 RTD 26
16 Mike Pearcy 4496 Maidenhead 18 18 12 30
17 Jon Hirsh 1483 Maidenhead 16 14 RTD 30
18 Alan Dibble 2016 Maidenhead 17 16 DNS 33
19 Geoff Batchelder 3251 Maidenhead 19 19 DNS 38
20 Mark Savill 2959 Maidenhead 20 RTD RTD 41