Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP TOP

Solo Open at West Kirby Sailing Club

by Philip Barnes 24 Jun 2024 00:29 PDT 22 June 2024
West Kirby Solo Open winners (l-r) Philip Barnes 3rd, Innes Armstrong 1st, Andy Carter 2nd © Justine Davenport

Sponsored by Winder Boats and Impact Marine

Arriving at the Club, everyone was excited at the prospect of sailing on the sea with West Kirby hosting the only northern sea event of the 2024 series.

A perfect forecast NW f4 decreasing 3 and sunny day was promised making it certain we would be racing on the sea. Unpacking the boats it was quite cold and breezier than forecast with a chilly 17kts North Westerly blowing in from the Irish Sea and those with shorts and T shirts quickly putting on jackets to keep warm. Kite surfers and wing foilers were flying across the marine lake making the most of the conditions.

We rigged the Solos and lined up for launching, but there was no water to sail on, the committee boat launched onto the sand, still high and dry.

In the clubhouse we were greeted to the usual excellent hospitality of the West Kirby team with delicious sticky buns and doughnuts with coffee as we registered to race. Included with the race entry was a picnic lunch ready for 3 back to back races.

At the briefing, the OOD urged us to be sensible at the start without requiring general recalls as time was tight for the tide not being quite as high as in previous years, but at 8.2m would be enough for three 30 to 40 minute races.

At 10.35, the water magically arrived at the slip way and we launched reaching to the start line whilst checking the strength of tide flowing into the estuary.

Race 1 was biased to the committee boat and favoured an early tack into the moorings to stay out of the foul tide. The course for races 1 and 2 was Olympic sausage, triangle. The wind had dropped to around 12kts for nice full power sailing and steady direction with the main challenge keeping boat speed through the waves and occasional lulls. Innes Armstrong and Martin Honnor got off to an early lead. Approaching the windward mark Philip Barnes, John Dixon and Phil Proctor were closing on the leaders. The club lead rescue boat led us around reminding us it was "sausage not triangle" and the downwind leg saw plenty of place changing. Up the next beat the wind started to ease and Armstrong held the lead, Barnes passed Honnor on the beat and the race finished Armstrong 1st, Barnes 2nd, Honnor 3rd and Dixon 4th. By now it was much warmer with champagne sailing out on the very picturesque estuary.

For the second race the wind had clocked right 5 to 10 degrees and the current eased to almost slack water. With a strong right hand bias and little tide holding us back it was no surprise to have a general recall. The OOD repositioned the pin upwind for a better bias and the fleet got away to a clean 'U' flag start. This time there was no real tidal gain for the boats that went right and actually sailed into less pressure. Armstrong got off to a great start and took the middle of the beat. Barnes and Chris Gillard went left and looked very good but overstood the windward mark. Andy Carter nailed the lay line to take 2nd at the mark followed by Gillard who hit the mark, allowing Barnes back into 3rd. Only just behind in 5th was Justine Davenport who was on fire, sailing very fast and consistently pushing for 4th place. Justine said that Innes had let her use a more recent sail instead of the not so new white dacron sail. Perhaps, with a new sail Justine will be beating Innes! The race positions held to the finish with Armstrong taking the bullet and hence winning the day. Carter took second ahead of Barnes, Gillard and Davenport.

For race 3, the wind had dropped to around 7 to 8kts and the OOD had limited time for the race to get the fleet back ashore before being marooned in the cruiser moorings as the tide went out. The beat was reduced in length and this time a windward leeward course. A very tactical beat and run saw Armstrong sail to another perfect victory - congrats Innes. Behind it was a repeat of race 2 with the same contenders in 2, 3, 4 and 5.

As we approached the finish of the last race, Chris Gillard was calling me (Barnes), I wondered what I had done wrong.... then I realised he was calling; "looks like you are writing the report". Perhaps that was why he was holding back towards the end of the race so he did not take 3rd to write the report.

We all sailed in and there was actually plenty of water to sail right to the jetty to be greeted by a small army of helpers holding our trollies identified by the tally numbers - thank you.

What a great day. Thank you to all the volunteers at West Kirby who put in so much effort from the car park manager, sandwich maker, registration team, PRO Mike De St Paer and team, rescue and mark layer teams and trolley team. Also a special good luck to Alan Leyland following his surgery and to getting back on the water soon.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st5813Innes ArmstrongBurwain‑1112
2nd5615Andy CarterWest Kirby‑8224
3rd5685Philip BarnesBudworth2‑335
4th6041Chris GillardSheffield Viking‑5448
5th5880Martin HonnorOgston37(RET)10
6th581Justine DavenportBurwain‑145510
7th5514John DixonWest Kirby4‑10711
8th5312Stuart NorrisShropshire‑116612
9th5968Nick HornsbyHollingworth79‑1016
10th5712Tony SampsonBudworth‑108816
11th5888Phil ProctorChester6‑151117
12th5592Bob MosedaleWest Kirby‑1311920
13th5979John ColegraveYorkshire Dales913‑1422
14th5662Chris GoslingWest Kirby‑12121224
15th4516Keith Patrick‑WardWest Kirby‑15141327

Related Articles

Solo and Laser open at Middle Nene
After a more than a 15 year break, these classes are together again After a more than a 15 year-long break, Middle Nene SC has re-introduced the joint Open Meeting for the Solo and Laser (ILCA) classes, and 19 competitors from MNSC and Cransley SC made the most of the near-perfect conditions on 31st May 2025. Posted on 3 Jun
Solo Western Series at Chew
A westerly has the ability to dunk the unsuspecting At last! Gone are the fickle and variable north easterly winds to be replaced by a punchy and vigorous westerly and anyone that knows a Chew westerly will be grinding their teeth with thoughts about it's ability to dunk the unsuspecting. Posted on 2 Jun
Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech
Good tactical racing in the Weald of Kent The National Solo Class Association (NSCA) Southern Area Circuit travelled to Bough Beech Sailing Club for their annual open on 24 May. Bough Beech reservoir is situated in the Weald of Kent enjoying 400-acres of water. Posted on 27 May
Singlehanded Regatta at Hayling Island
Finns, Europes and Solos don't let the forecast put them off a glorious weekend Day one Charlie Bradshaw held the fleets on shore for an hour on Saturday morning, a fair amount of hope but an early strong easterly can have a detrimental effect on a sea breeze here so there was certainly a little trepidation in the fleet. Posted on 26 May
HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers at Largs
Ben Ledi trophy rewards consistency by not allowing any discard As the Scottish Solo fleet travelled to Largs on the west coast for the third of the HD Sails travellers series we knew that the event would be bathed in sunshine, but would there be enough wind? Posted on 22 May
Solos at South Staffs
Jonathan Woodward takes the trophy, and the role of fleet captain 14 boat joined us to race in the annual South Staffs Solo Open Meeting 2025, sponsored by Allen Sailing and CB Boat Trailer and Cover Store. Posted on 19 May
Midlands Region Solos at Barnt Green
'Penny a Mile' prize awarded for the most distance covered in a single lap A total of 32 entrants comprising of 16 visitors and 16 home boats were greeted by Barnt Green Solo Class Captain and PRO at the briefing who explained that the wind direction was constantly fluctuating so be vigilant for course changes. Posted on 15 May
Solo class Southern Area Series at Frensham
Another record fleet of 28 boats On 11th May, Frensham Pond Sailing Club staged their 2025 Solo Open Meeting as part of the Superspars Solo Open Series. A total of 28 boats took part in what was another record for the Solo ?eet at Frensham. Posted on 15 May
Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy preview
Named after one of the founder members of the N.S.C.A One of the founder members of the N.S.C.A, Nigel sailed his National Solo at Emsworth SC and then Chichester YC for over thirty years. Nigel passed away in July 2010 and the pre-championship event at Weymouth was re-named in his honour. Posted on 14 May
Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Open
A bumper turnout of twenty-seven sailors A bumper turnout of twenty-seven sailors turned out for the Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Open meeting over the weekend of the 10th and 11th June. Posted on 13 May
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - A-Wing XPS - BOTTOMRooster 2025