Inaugural Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea © Will Loy

Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea © Will Loy

Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club welcomed 23 vintage National Solos to this inaugural Championship and they had also kindly arranged conditions not dissimilar to the town of Elounda, Greece. Wall-to-wall sunshine raised the temperature to the high twenties and an afternoon 'meltini' made for some great racing.

I had not visited Leigh before and as I gazed upon a vast uninhabited tundra, was beginning to question the accuracy of the on-board route finder, even pondering a look at a papyrus document once used to find places. NSCA Chauffeur Doug Latta, NSCA Vice President and soon to be king quickly put my mind to rest, explaining that the tide would indeed rise.

We squeezed the latest model Beemer through the narrow cobbled street while cleaners busily wiped spilt coke from sticky topped tables and attempted to arrange chairs in a more alluring formation than their competitors. The sun was shining, money was there to be made. Leigh on Sea sits next to a now disused train track and infant was once a station, hence the long corridor and expansive upper floor. Free bacon rolls and tea/coffee greeted us and the east end feel of friendliness was very warming. The patio with club flags flying proudly, looks over a wonderful panorama with the race area right in front of the members, just needed water now!

To the East of the club, upon a very rustic raised set of racks which could have been built from the decks of long ago scuppered galleons sat the fleet of Solos, lots of history here then. The wooden structure itself, photographed in monochrome would not look out of place in the Tate Gallery.

Looking further East, Essex Yacht Club, it's home a decommissioned minesweeper, stood out from the familiar, gun turret turned inland for now but easily rotated toward Leigh on Sea's train station if results for their fleet were unacceptable.

There were five visitors, three from Essex Y.C and a notable visitor in the form of Doug whom I had given the afternoon off from his driving job. To be sure, if he sailed as quick as he drove, he would be in the mix. I would be filming the event but had contemplated spending some time fitting duel foot controls to the BMW or failing that, purchasing a blindfold.

On the water and rib driver Andy and myself did our best to navigate the low water while the committee boat still floundered, oars were utilised until we found the deep water marks. Already one stricken Solo was detected, maybe holding an event for old boats was a bad idea as they do break easy! Fortunately the shroud pin had just fallen out and we were able to effect a repair with a fellow competitors sticky tape.

Race 1

With 12mph from the east and a tide ripping in with it, surely no one would be over early. The fleet set about up the comparatively short beat, splitting evenly and at the top it was Jonny Wells, a proper Essex boy who led in the Tony Thresher built 3903 (1993) from class fleet captain Colin Walker 4023 (Thresher 1995) and Toby Smith 3914 in the 1993 built Don Marine FRP hull. The racing was close as the fleet set off down the square shaped course, with Nick Morgan 3977 (Severn Sailboats Composite 1995), Matt Tothill 3987 in another Severn Sailboat and Doug Latta in fourth, doing his best to come to terms with racing a Lovett built in 1978! He remarked afterwards that it creaked quite alarmingly!

Unfortunately Wells, who led the three lap race from pillar to post was OCS and thus Toby Smith took the gun with Walker and Morgan completing the top three.

Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea - photo © Will Loy

Race 2

With the tide still slightly east to west it was Richard Beech in 3936, a home built Solo from W.McPhee who was this time over early while the majority of the fleet went left, hoping to avoid the worst of the impressively strong tidal influence. Wells made no mistake this time, extending to win and clearly enjoying the now 12-14mph gusts, champagne sailing on the east coast. For a moment I swear the sea almost looked clear. Latte held for second, still though a little perplexed by the lack of mast rake available to him. Alan Roberts finished strong in third in the 1990 built Don Marine wooden Solo, one more race to go and he could lose the DNF from race 1.

Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea - photo © Will Loy

Race 3

All to play for and with the PRO was not hanging around as the tide had turned and was on it's way to Margate. OCS was an unfortunate Roberts who did not realise and continued to race when he could have been drinking the Solo Vintage beer kindly supplied by the local brewer, what a sickening feeling.

Wells was in dominant form, the Thresher with it's finely crafted bow section cutting through the chop like a Southend United forward through Colchester's pathetic defence. The fleet enjoyed the downwind legs with waves providing a playground for those more athletic amongst them. Wells took the win and the Championship with Robin Tothill, one of the instigators of the 'Sub 4000 Club' second and Nick Hann third in 2120, a beautifully restored GRP Slater's Marine Solo third. Fellow Essex Y.C. sailor Toby Smith finished fifth which, with his race 1 bullet secured second overall and Latta's fourth gave him third for the day.

The fleet reconvened at the sumptuous veranda, faces glowing from the sun's rays and maybe radioactivity from the power station but all were happy. The aroma of BBQ food filled the air while the beach remained full of families enjoying the riches of the east coast and youths discussed the evening's Love Island episode.

Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea - photo © Will Loy

Jonny Wells acceptance speech was full of praise for Leigh on Sea, it's organisers and fellow visitors and looked forward to returning next year. The turret team aboard the minesweeper stood down and with prizes from Rooster Sailing collected and Vintage Solo beer consumed, went our separate ways.

The only way is Essex this time but I do believe there will be visitors from further afield next year!

Overall Results: