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NSCA Solo class Eastern Area travellers at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

by Colin Walker 9 Jun 2023 00:06 PDT 4 June 2023
NSCA Solo class Eastern Area travellers at Leigh-on-Sea © LOSSC

A breezy but brilliantly sunny morning greeted all 19 entries to this years Solo Class open meeting which forms part of the Eastern Area travellers events. The prizes were supported by Rooster Sailing.

Local entries were down from Saturdays Vintage Championship, after many had aching legs, backs and so forth. However, ten visitors were welcomed. After the customary bacon butties, tea and coffee and a briefing by the Race Officer, Steve Corbet, the fleet set off in perfect conditions.

A trapezoidal course was set similar to the previous days racing and a keen northeasterly breeze kept the sailors on their toes (so to speak). Again, many testing the taste of the Thames estuary!

All the new boats quickly showed their speed and drew away from the older ones in race 1. Jonny Wells (5597) led at the top mark first time, however such is the competitiveness of the fleet by the end of round one Jonathan Swain (6055) had established a close lead. Steve Ede (6045) and Jarvis Simpson (6016) both old hands were close in second and third spot respectively.

In the second race again Swain took the lead and was ahead until the bottom mark when his halyard broke ending his days racing. Tim Lewis (6010) showed his class in his newly acquired boat and after some very close racing in the increasingly shifting breeze led home the fleet. Ede managed second place with Wells in third position. Fourth place went to Cass Monk (3983), in a 20+ year old boat.

All to play for in the final race of the day as the breeze now kicked up a good chop as the tide had turned. A committee boat start was won by Ede. With the increasing offshore wind now shifting back and forth, 30 degrees at times, the top boats had a close and thrilling race especially on the downwind legs.

At the end of the shortened course it was Ede who led home followed by Lewis and Simpson to take home the Open Meeting trophy for the second time.

The fleet returned to the shore exhausted but had a great day racing in fabulous conditions.

After racing food was provided courtesy of the club, following the prize-giving as one or two visitors had to get away quickly.

The prize-giving was introduced by Class Captain Russel Tredgett (3886) and thanked all the visitors for their support in coming to the LSC and Rooster Sailing for their prize support. He handed over the presentation to Commodore Robin Tothill (3958) which covered the top three boats. Steve Ede thanked all the members involved in the management of the event and looked forward to returning next year.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st6045Steve EdeArdleigh SC‑2213
2nd6010Tim LewisRYA‑8123
3rd6016Jarvis SimpsonBrightlingsea SC3‑636
4th5597Jonny WellsEssex YC‑6347
5th3983Cass MonkEssex YC‑5459
6th5564Graham SextonFishers Green SC45(DNF)9
7th956Alan RobertsLeigh on Sea SC‑77714
8th3958Robin TothillLeigh on Sea SC‑108917
9th4023Colin WalkerLeigh on Sea SC99(DNF)18
10th3802Dave BraunLeigh on Sea SC‑1211819
11th3881Tony HandfieldLeigh on Sea SC‑14101020
12th6055Jonathan SwainCassington1(DNF)DNC21
13th3909Richard KnightLeigh on Sea SC‑1815621
14th5249Nick PighillsFishers Green SC13‑141124
15th3552Phil DowsettLeigh on Sea SC‑16131225
16th3847Mike BarnesLagos YC1512(DNF)27
17th4801Godfrey ClarkFischer Green SC11(DNF)DNC31
18th3886Russell TredgettLeigh on Sea SC17(DNC)DNC37
19th5833Richard BeechyLeigh on Sea SC(DNC)DNCDNC40

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