Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

Solo Open at Burghfield Sailing Club

by Steve Middleton 27 Apr 09:02 PDT 26 April 2025
Burghfield Solo Open © Dario Marangio

It was all looking a bit ominous during the week leading up to the Burghfield Sailing Club Solo Open Meeting on Saturday 26th April. A poor forecast of very light winds - if any - meant that the entry list was looking very depleted until a flurry late on achieved critical-mass and it was game on.

On the day, 17 competitors arrived to find - as forecast - a very light ENE breeze along the length of the lake, albeit bright and dry. The event was shared with the friendly Comet class and everyone launched enthusiastically to head for the start line whereupon the breeze promptly died to nothing! For the next 45 minutes or so, the race team, led by Deryck Lovegrove, attempted to set a course with the occasional zephyr emerging from any random point of the compass you'd care to choose. It did eventually settle into its forecast direction - but still very patchy and shifty - and racing commenced.

For the home boats, local knowledge proved to be no advantage whatsoever as visitors dominated the top 5 positions. Very much to the credit of the race team, 3 races were completed and coming out on top - also last year's winner - was Tom Gillard (Sheffield Viking/Staunton Harold SC) with 3 straight winds. And whilst he eventually pulled clear in most of the races, Mark Maskell (Blackwater SC) provided the main challenge - never far away - coming in second place in all 3 races. Nick Charles (Papercourt SC), Mark Williams (Llandegfedd SC) and Chris Bolton (Norfolk Broads YC) all mixed it with the leaders to add a bit of spice to proceedings.

Of the home boats, Jon Ibbotson and Andy Jones pressed hard but were just not quite able to turn their presence amongst the leading boats into podium positions at the end of the day.

Running the racing at BSC can often be quite challenging, so a big thank you to Deryck Lovegrove and his race team who managed affairs in exemplary fashion, and also to Kevin Druce for all his efforts in organising the event.

Find out more about Burghfield Sailing Club (near Reading) at www.burghfieldsailing.org or our Facebook page.

Overall Results:

PosHelmBoat NameSail NoClubR1R2R3Pts
1stTom GillardTimes Up6021Sheffield Viking/Staunton Harold SC‑1112
2ndMark MaskellPussy Galore6007Blackwater SC‑2224
3rdNicholas Charles 5158Papercourt SC‑8538
4thMark Williams 5900Llandegfedd SC53‑78
5thChris BoltonRita6064Norfolk Broads YC44‑88
6thJon Ibbotson 660Burghfield SC6‑9410
7thAndy JonesEdith5726Burghfield SC‑76612
8thIan MatthewsBaldrick6112Spinnaker SC310(DNC)13
9thSteve Jones 5730Littleton SC‑128513
10thFraser HaydenSoloism5693Papercourt SC97(DNC)16
11thAdam Krikwood 5550Burghfield SC‑13121022
12thKevin DruceBuddy5589Burghfield SC1111(DNF)22
13thMark CooperBella5838Burghfield SC10DNF(DNC)24
14thWynn Kenrick 5029Burghfield SC(DNC)DNC927
15thPeter AshBlack Beauty4407Burghfield SCDNF(DNC)DNC33
16thSteve MiddletonBig Pebble5870Burghfield SC(DNC)DNCDNC36
16thSteve Townsend 4210Burghfield SC(DNC)DNCDNC36

Related Articles

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 4
The final day of racing at Circolo Vela Bellano So, to the final day of racing and there would be three races planned before a prize-giving reception which would be held at the Palasole Pavilion later this evening. Posted on 25 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3
Social evening proves universally popular with every seat taken Before I get into the action from day 3, first a quick recap on the previous evening's Italian themed Solo social which took place in the shaded area of the nearby Palasole Pavilion. This must have been a popular choice as every seat was taken. Posted on 25 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 2
Pin end starts and taking the left the order of the day The night had been sultry, and not in a Monica Bellucci kind of way, though I would have happily discarded my pyjamas in her presence. The skies had become overcast as the sun fell between the mountains on the western horizon. Posted on 24 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 1
Sunshine in Italy after a storm hits on the day before I awoke to the unfamiliar roar of an engine turbine as it throttled up, the local ferry utilising a hydrofoil system that, from the estimated weight of the beast, required as much thrust as the flux capacitor could give her to hit 88 miles an hour. Posted on 23 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 0
Circolo Vela Bellano continues to welcome Solos through its gates Circolo Vela Bellano, nestled on the banks of the eastern side of Lake Como continues to welcome Solos through its gates in readiness for what is effectively the European Championship. Posted on 21 Jun
Solo class Midlands Area event at Shustoke
Would bringing the event forward a month change their wind fortunes? It had been 11 months since the last Solo class open meeting at Shustoke SC which saw very light and at times non existent wind. Would bringing the event forward a month change our wind fortunes? Posted on 17 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Garda preview
With 63 entries and counting, it promises to be THE biggest Championship of 2025 There is only one Solo event in Italy this year and given that every other class has decided to go to Lake Garda, the venue of Lake Como ensured we got a big fleet and with 63 entries and counting, it promises to be THE biggest Solo Championship of 2025. Posted on 14 Jun
Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian
Charlie Brecknell wins after steadily improving over the last few seasons The HD sails Scottish Solo championship was held as part of the North Berwick regatta on June 7/8. It was an opportunity to sail on the same waters where the Solo National Championships will be held in early August. Posted on 13 Jun
Solo Eastern Championship at Brightlingsea
Bright sunny skies and a light easterly wind greeted the sailors Bright sunny skies and a light easterly wind greeted the Solo sailors at Brightlingsea for the Eastern Championship. Posted on 11 Jun
Solo Eastern Travellers at Norfolk Broads
3 competitive races as part of the NBYC Dinghy Weekend The Norfolk Broads Yacht Club hosted the latest Solo Eastern Travellers event on the 7th June. The growing club fleet welcomed visitors from various East Anglian clubs and 11 boats contested three competitive races as part of the NBYC Dinghy Weekend. Posted on 11 Jun
Maritimo M600PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOM