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Sea Sure 2025

Solo Midlands Open 2023 at Chase Sailing Club

by Dave Watkins 23 Sep 2023 23:41 PDT 16 September 2023
Solo Midlands Open at Chase © Dave Watkins

25 Solos lined up for the Chase Sailing Club, Solo open held on 16th September, even though this open was part of the midland regional series competitors travelled from far and wide to race in a four-race open.

The racing was set out to be two races in the morning with a break for lunch and a further two races in the afternoon, this was to coincide with the Lightning National Championship being hosted on the same weekend.

The forecast was set fair with a nice NE breeze, overcast with the chance of a little sunshine. The RO for the day, Graham Flynn, assisted by Paul Lester in the committee boat, Graham gave the briefing at 10.30 to all competitors and thanked our excellent welcoming crew that organised the tally's and the car parking.

The first race started at 10.55am, all got away without a hitch, the wind behaved without too much movement in direction. Ian Ingram from Earlswood got off to a good start as did Dave Winder in his new boat which looked fantastic! It was Dave Winder who got the win followed by Ian Ingram from Earlswood with Nigel Davies from Draycote in third.

The RO decided to change the course as the wind had started to shift, all boats got away without a hitch. This time it was Jonathon Swain from Carsington that showed excellent pace to take the win, followed by Chris Brown from Draycote with Dave Winder taking third spot.

Everyone came in for a superb lunch prepared by the galley, with everyone refuelled it was time for the deciding races.

The RO set a new course, the wind increasing slightly and veering to the east. Once again it was a great start, Ian Ingram taking the win, Dave Winder in second and Nigel Davies in third. Kev Hall managed an excellent fourth.

So, it was all down to the last race with several boats being able to win the open, the RO decided to stretch everyone out with a long course, unfortunately Chris Brown managed to be the wrong side of the line with an OCS ruling him out of a final position. It was Jonathon Swain from Carsington who took the win, Dave Winder took second position and Ian Ingram in third.

Therefore, it was Dave Winder who took the win overall by one point, Ian Ingram in second and Jonathon Swain in third.

The Commodore of Chase SC, Dave Watkins thanked everyone for travelling, Dave Winder thanked everyone for the excellent hospitality and warm welcome, especially the shore crew that did a fantastic job with the trolleys.

Once again the choice of cakes were amazing and all profits raised will be heading to the RNLI.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1st6093David WinderHollingworth lake1‑3225
2nd5858Ian IngramEarlswood2‑9136
3rd6055Jonathan SwainCarsington‑61517
4th5911Nigel DaviesDraycote Water SC3‑63410
5th6061C BrownDraycote Water SC526(OCS)13
6th5704Jamie CuxsonShustoke Sailing Club44‑10816
7th5524K HallNorthampton SC‑774516
8th5210Niel WilkinsonNA8‑107621
9th6039Steve McCarthyChase SC‑1058922
10th5736Iain CarpenterNorthampton Sailing Club9811(DNF)28
11th5401Andrew BownesBartley13‑149729
12th5740Mike CosseyShustoke S.C12‑15121034
13th5854A WilliamsChase SC‑2513141138
14th5138Lee NankervisShropshire SC‑2112151239
15th5497Olly SaundersShustoke SC151119(DNS)45
16th5721Graham WilsonNorthampton141813(DNF)45
17th4437Tony HotchkissSouth Staffs S C16(DNF)161345
18th4615R LutwycheChase SC19.5‑23171450.5
19th6056Peter WarneNorthampton SC1116(DNF)DNS53
20th5671Simon DippleShustoke Sailing Club171918(DNF)54
21st3969Anna NankervisShropshire SC19.521‑231656.5
22nd4919David DuntSutton‑2420221557
23rd5299Jonathan HaighSutton Sailing Club1817(DNS)DNS61
24th3839Andrew SamanjoulSheffield Viking Sailing Club23‑24211761
25th5675Maria Elvira Franco FerroNorthampton SC222220(DNF)64

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