Solo Seldén Southern Area Series Open at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Bough Beech Solo Open © Sara Seddon

Eight visitors joined ten Bough Beech boats for the Club's Solo Open on 26 March, part of the Solo Southern Area series which is generously supported by Seldén.

Bright sunshine and a moderate breeze made for near ideal conditions though as usual in a north-easterly, there were a few chunky changes of direction that kept everybody focused. The Race team set a trapezoid course with a long up and downwind legs.

In the first race, James Goodfellow (Ardleigh SC) escaped from the pack early on and steadily built an unassailable lead. Behind him, the fleet became quite spread out. Martin Hodgson (Salcombe YC) and Richard Hudson (Bough Beech) followed round in 2nd and 3rd place.

Bough Beech Solo Open - photo © Sara Seddon

In the second race Mark Maskell (Blackwater SC) led the fleet on the first lap but eventually dropped to 3rd at the finish behind Bough Beech Solo Class Captain John Reed and Richard Hudson. This time the racing throughout the fleet was much tighter.

After a lunch break ashore racing resumed with the wind gusting to 15 kts, though there were also some lulls. Maskell again got first lap honours but slipped down the fleet while Tim Lewis (RYA) established and held onto a slim lead under challenge from Goodfellow and Reed. Reed passed Goodfellow on the final lap to secure 2nd place.

So it all came down to the last race. Reed rounded the windward mark first, pursued by Lewis and Goodfellow. Goodfellow passed Lewis and eventually edged in front of Reed. Goodfellow and Reed opened up a gap in the rest of the fleet while they duelled for the lead. Goodfellow hung on to win the meeting overall on countback from Reed. Lewis was 3rd overall. Reed was the first Master, Lewis the first Grand Master and Steve Knowles (Bough Beech) the first Septimus.

Overall Results: