Solo Open at Papercourt Sailing Club
by Fraser Hayden 28 Oct 2020 04:19 AEDT
25 October 2020
The Papercourt Solo Open 2020 started with a downpour making for soggy rigging. However, once briefed and launched the sun came out and the breeze clicked in from the South West with 29 boats, including 12 visitors lined up for the first of 4 very competitive starts.
In Race 1, Roger Bennett (Silver Wing) got a clean getaway, with Fraser Hayden (Papercourt) and Paul Robinson (Papercourt) changing places throughout the race, with Paul finishing ahead by 1 boat length. James Boyce (Papercourt and previous winner) caught on the wrong side of the fleet worked through to 4th and Patrick Fell (Papercourt) made good progress up the fleet to finish 5th.
Race 2, after good starts James 1st tussled with Dad, Andrew Boyce (Papercourt), before breaking away. Paul Robinson then took over hassling Andrew and took second. Simon Denham (LIttleton), Patrick and Paul Playle (Island Barn) had a close race and finished 4th, 5th, 6th respectively.
In Race 3, James got away and stayed there to the end. This time Patrick was on form from the start, along with Fraser, Roger, and Paul Robinson. By the end, Fraser crept through to 2nd, ahead of Roger, Patrick and Paul.
For Race 4, the points were looking interesting: James had 6, Paul on 9, Fraser and Roger seemingly out of the picture on 12 and 15. James nailed the start, closely followed by Roger, Fraser, and Craig Clarke (Papercourt). These four got a good lead away from the pack, with Roger taking a turn to lead, before Fraser snuck through on the last run to take the bullet.
A great close finish with the top three divided by 1 point and a countback.
A socially distanced Tea and prize-giving followed with thanks given to the Club for holding the event, the Safety boat team and the Race team including PRO Clive White for managing 4 hotly contested starts with no general recalls! James thanked the visitors for one of his best days sailing this year!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 5115 | James Boyce | PSC | ‑4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 2nd | 5381 | Fraser Hayden | PSC | 3 | ‑7 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 3rd | 5487 | Roger Bennett | Silver Wings | 1 | ‑11 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 4th | 4973 | Paul Robinson | PSC | 2 | 2 | ‑5 | 5 | 9 |
| 5th | 5678 | Patrick Fell | PSC | 5 | 5 | 4 | ‑6 | 14 |
| 6th | 5666 | Andrew Boyce | PSC | 11 | 3 | 7 | ‑13 | 21 |
| 7th | 5393 | Simon Derham | Littleton SC | 9 | 4 | ‑12 | 8 | 21 |
| 8th | 5818 | Mike Dray | Littleton SC | 6 | ‑9 | 9 | 9 | 24 |
| 9th | 5180 | Paul Playle | Island Barn | 12 | 6 | 8 | ‑15 | 26 |
| 10th | 4970 | Sue Taylor | Silver Wings | 10 | 13 | ‑19 | 7 | 30 |
| 11th | 5597 | Jonny Wells | Essex YC | 8 | ‑14 | 13 | 12 | 33 |
| 12th | 5744 | | | 16 | 8 | 10 | (DNC) | 34 |
| 13th | 5718 | Craig Clarke | PSC | ‑19 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 35 |
| 14th | 4539 | Phil Sheppard | Aylesbury SC | 14 | 15 | 6 | (DNC) | 35 |
| 15th | 5562 | Simon Hamment | | 7 | 12 | ‑18 | 16 | 35 |
| 16th | 5771 | Tim Jackson | PSC | ‑24 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 37 |
| 17th | 5730 | Steve Jones | Littleton SC | 15 | 16 | ‑24 | 10 | 41 |
| 18th | 5575 | Paul Trevan | Frensham Pond | 17 | ‑21 | 11 | 19 | 47 |
| 19th | 5791 | Jason Noble | PSC | ‑18 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 49 |
| 20th | 5700 | Adrian Law | | 13 | ‑23 | 20 | 23 | 56 |
| 21st | 4858 | Martin Kemp | PSC | 20 | 20 | ‑23 | 17 | 57 |
| 22nd | 5668 | Peter Binning | Dell Quay | 21 | 19 | ‑25 | 21 | 61 |
| 23rd | 4454 | Stas Lawicki | PSC | ‑22 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 62 |
| 24th | 4679 | Mark Fuller | PSC | (DNC) | DNC | 15 | 20 | 65 |
| 25th | 5202 | Frank Brown | PSC | 23 | ‑25 | 21 | 22 | 66 |
| 26th | 4846 | Dave Welch | PSC | 25 | 24 | ‑26 | 24 | 73 |
| 27th | 5256 | John Panting | PSC | 26 | 26 | ‑27 | 25 | 77 |
| 28th | 4272 | James Baldwin | PSC | 27 | 27 | ‑28 | 26 | 80 |
| 29th | 4540 | Richard Burt | PSC | 28 | 28 | (DNC) | DNC | 86 |